This is the final report on the project that has developed a novel electric extraction technique for high value materials from end-of-life PV modules.
Report extract
The project aims to develop a high temperature process (pyrometallurgy) route for refining and recycling of end-of-life (EOL) solar panels. The use of a high temperature process allows the processing of high volume and high throughput EOL panels and co-processed with other silicon resources (e.g. metallurgical grade silicon).
The final report provides a detail overview of the project to date. Key highlights include:
- Development of systematic thermodynamic modelling of Silicon-Glass/Slag systems that identify the optimal process conditions for P and B removal (>90 %) and Ag recovery in Si (>90 %);
- Development of a fundamental understanding through equilibrium and kinetic high temperature experimentations using drop-quenching and pedestal-gas quenching;
- Development of a pilot-scale furnace (kg scale);
- Design of the electrochemical cell and conducting electrically-enhanced experiments at lab scale and pilot scale;
- Development of a novel kinetic model for explaining the behaviour of the reaction in the electrically enhanced system.
