Physical Separation and Beneficiation of End-of-Life Photovoltaic Panel Materials: Utilizing Temperature Swings and Particle Shape

Abstract

One of the technical challenges with the recovery of valuable materials from end-of-life (EOL) photovoltaic (PV) modules for recycling is the liberation and separation of the materials. We present a potential method to liberate and separate shredded EOL PV panels for the recovery of Si wafer particles. The backing material is removed by submersion in liquid nitrogen, while the encapsulant is removed by pyrolysis. After pyrolysis, separation of the liberated particles (i.e., Si wafer and glass) is carried out by using particle size and shape with mechanical screening. Using this robust approach, a Si wafer grade of 86% and a recovery of 88% were achieved.