Chemical route for the recovery of different components in silicon based solar panel module
Abstract
As solar photovoltaic (PV) technology continues to expand in the global energy market, it is imperative to comprehend end-of-life management of solar panels. The recovery and recycling of materials from waste solar modules are essential for the sustainable development of the PV sector. In this work, back-sheet, glass, and other components including copper, silica were recovered using a solitary thermal method. The panels had to be heated to 250°C in order to remove the aluminium frames, and then they had to be heated to 600°C for 15 to 20 min in order to separate the layers of EVA encapsulant. The effective recovery of materials like aluminium frames and EVA layers was made possible by the thermal approach. Furthermore, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and potassium hydroxide were used to recover copper and silica, yielding a 90% recovery rate for both materials. The suggested approach offers a viable means of recovering and reusing valuable materials in the photovoltaic industry while also demonstrating economic viability for the sustainable management of waste solar modules.
