An Investigation of the Recovery of Silicon Photovoltaic Cells by Application of an Organic Solvent Method

Tembo, Prichard Mekani; Heninger, Milan; Subramanian, Vaidyanathan

doi:10.1149/2162-8777/abe093

Cited by 26 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The efficacy of pure hexane in dissolving EVA has been demonstrated. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis has indicated that hexane does not cause damage to the front surface of photovoltaic cells [36]. The utilization of trichloroethylene in conjunction with microwave recycling of EOL solar panels has been found to accelerate the separation of distinct layers.…”

Section: Chemical Delaminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delamination Techniques of Waste Solar Panels: A Review

Ghahremani,

Adams,

Norton

et al. 2024

Clean Technol.

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Solar panels are an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels; however, their useful life is limited to approximately 25 years, after which they become a waste management issue. Proper management and recycling of end-of-life (EOL) solar panels are paramount. It protects the environment because of the high energy consumption of silicon production. We can effectively decrease energy and cost requirements by recovering silicon from recycled solar panels. This is one-third of those needed for manufacturing silicon directly. Moreover, solar panels include heavy metals, such as lead, tin, and cadmium, which pose risks to human health and the environment. Empirical evidence suggests that the costs of mining materials can exceed those of recycled materials, thereby making recycling a more cost-effective means of resource harvesting. This review paper focuses on the techniques developed to delaminate solar panels, which are considered a crucial step in the recycling of EOL solar panels. Initially, various classifications of solar panels are given. Subsequently, an analysis of the diverse methods of solar panel delamination and their efficacy in the retrieval of valued materials is presented. This investigation has identified three primary modes of delamination, namely mechanical, thermal, and chemical. Among these, mechanical delamination is deemed to be a sustainable and cost-effective option when compared to thermal and chemical delamination. The current most popular method of thermal delamination is characterized by its high energy consumption and potential emission, and the chemical delamination generates hazardous liquids that pose their own threat to the environment. This study emphasizes the mechanical delamination techniques, characterized by their environmentally friendly nature, minimal ecological footprint, and capacity to retrieve entire glass panels intact. This paper also discusses the current gaps and potential enhancements for mechanical delamination techniques. For example, some delamination techniques result in crushed materials. Thus, the handling and recovery of materials such as glass and silicon cells require the implementation of an appropriate sorting technique. Also, the value obtained from recovering crushed materials is lower than that of intact glass and silicon cells.

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Section: Chemical Delaminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delamination Techniques of Waste Solar Panels: A Review

Ghahremani,

Adams,

Norton

et al. 2024

Clean Technol.

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“…However, aluminum has the potential to form compounds with silicon in sulfuric acid. silver is expected to form AgCl precipitate in hydrochloric acid [17]. In addition, the copper and lead contained in the PV ribbon are not oxidized in sulfuric acid [18] and are reported to be soluble in nitric acid [19,20] and hydrochloric acid [21].…”

Section: Selective Leachingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, the copper and lead contained in the PV ribbon are not oxidized in sulfuric acid [18] and are reported to be soluble in nitric acid [19,20] and hydrochloric acid [21]. In this study, nitric acid was used as a leaching agent based on the survey contents [17][18][19][20][21], and a method of recovering high-purity silicon and silver in the recovered solution after leaching was derived.…”

Section: Selective Leachingmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Study on the Recovery of Valuable Metals from Solar Cells Using Acid Leaching and Substitution Reactions

Hyun Jong,

Urtnasan,

Wang

2023

Preprint

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This study was conducted to recover valuable metals (silicon and silver) using acid leaching and substitution reactions with copper powder from the pulverized solar cell separated from the PV ribbon. Leaching experiments were conducted according to nitric acid concentration by molar solution as 1M, 2M, and 3M using an ultrasonic cleaner at a reaction temperature of 60 °C for the leaching times of 30 to 120 minutes. Si phases were detected at all leaching reaction times, it was confirmed that the aluminium was removed effectively if the nitric acid leaching time was more than 30 minutes, and silicon with a purity above 99% could be recovered. The silver was precipitated by adding copper, which has greater reducibility than Cu, Al, Si, Pb, and Sn. When the addition of copper powder was 0.75 and 1.0 g, precipitate was produced 0.23 and 0.55 g, respectively. The optimal condition for the recovery of silver by the addition of copper powder was 1 g, where is recovery rate reached 93.3%.

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“…Chemical methods can be used to recover intact module components; however, the reaction time required increases with an increase in the area of the module. Research is currently underway to solve this problem [42][43][44][45][46][47][48]. Another disadvantage of this process is the burden of additional environmental pollution generated by the treatment of used chemicals.…”

Section: Photovoltaic Module Recycling Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(3) Chemical processes use solvents or acids to dissolve and separate different materials in the PV modules, and the separated components are then processed for recycling or reuse. These processes require careful management and disposal of the chemicals used, as well as proper treatment of the wastewater generated during the process [42][43][44][45][46][47][48].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review on Separation Processes of End-of-Life Silicon Photovoltaic Modules

Kim

Jang

et al. 2023

Energies

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Solar energy has gained prominence because of the increasing global attention received by renewable energies. This shift can be attributed to advancements and innovations in solar cell technology, which include developments of various photovoltaic materials, such as thin film and tandem solar cells, in addition to silicon-based solar cells. The latter is the most widely commercialized type of solar cell because of its exceptional durability, long-term stability, and high photoconversion efficiency; consequently, the demand for Si solar cells has been consistently increasing. PV modules are designed for an operation lifespan of 25–30 years, which has led to a gradual increase in the number of end-of-life PV modules. The appropriate management of both end-of-life and prematurely failed PV modules is critical for the recovery and separation of valuable and hazardous materials. Effective methods for end-of-life PV waste management are necessary to minimize their environmental impact and facilitate transition to a more sustainable and circular economy. This paper offers a comprehensive overview of the separation processes for silicon PV modules and summarizes the attempts to design easily recyclable modules for sustainable solar module development. Based on the studies summarized in this paper, suggestions are provided for future research.

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An Investigation of the Recovery of Silicon Photovoltaic Cells by Application of an Organic Solvent Method

Cited by 26 publications

References 30 publications

Delamination Techniques of Waste Solar Panels: A Review

Delamination Techniques of Waste Solar Panels: A Review

A Study on the Recovery of Valuable Metals from Solar Cells Using Acid Leaching and Substitution Reactions

Review on Separation Processes of End-of-Life Silicon Photovoltaic Modules

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