This Report outlines achievements from phase 1, including modelling and experimental studies conducted, establishment of lab-scale pyrolysis and chemical leaching prototypes, development of advanced numerical models used to support the prototype design and reactor optimisation.
Report extract
Inspired by metallurgy engineering, the project will develop a highly efficient low-cost closed-loop recycling system to recover valuable metals and silicon from end-of-life (EoL) photovoltaic (PV) panels. The project will leverage interdisciplinary research expertise in metallurgy (pyro-/ hydro-metallurgy), PV, off-gas/wastewater treatment, and collaboration with energy, metallurgy, PV, Silicon (Si), chemical, and recycling industries in Australia and overseas. The system integrates a high-temperature pyrolyser for removing the binding material from panels at high efficiency and productivity, low temperature leaching reactors using less toxic chemicals to recover valuable metals at high efficiency, and customised waste treatment units to treat/reuse harmful waste gas and wastewater.