A novel approach for the recycling of thin film photovoltaic modules

• Published in: Resources, conservation and recycling Vol. 54; no. 10; pp. 711 - 718
• Main Authors: Berger, Wolfgang, Simon, Franz-Georg, Weimann, Karin, Alsema, Erik A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.08.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cadmium tellurides; CdTe; CIS; Environmental impact; Exact sciences and technology; General treatment and storage processes; Global environmental pollution; Life cycle analysis; Mechanical processing; Modules; Photovoltaic; Photovoltaic cells; Pollution; Recycling; Semiconductor materials; Solar cells; Strategy; Thin film modules; Thin films; Wastes; Photovoltaic; Life cycle analysis; Recycling; CIS; Mechanical processing; CdTe; Thin film modules; Waste dumping; Heat treatment; Life cycle (environment); Mechanical separation; Laboratory scale; Markets; Thin film; Environment impact; Production; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0921-3449; 1879-0658
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2009.12.001

A sustainable recycling of photovoltaic (PV) thin film modules gains in importance due to the considerable growing of the PV market and the increasing scarcity of the resources for semiconductor materials. The paper presents the development of two strategies for thin film PV recycling based on (wet) mechanical processing for broken modules, and combined thermal and mechanical methods for end-of-life modules. The feasibility of the processing steps was demonstrated in laboratory scale as well as in semi-technical scale using the example of CdTe and CIS modules. Pre-concentrated valuables In and Te from wet mechanical processing can be purified to the appropriate grade for the production of new modules. An advantage of the wet mechanical processing in comparison to the conventional procedure might be the usage of no or a small amount of chemicals during the several steps. Some measures are necessary in order to increase the efficiency of the wet mechanical processing regarding the improvement of the valuable yield and the related enrichment of the semiconductor material. The investigation of the environmental impacts of both recycling strategies indicates that the strategy, which includes wet mechanical separation, has clear advantages in comparison to the thermal treatment or disposal on landfills.