Hybrid Recovery of Copper and Silver from PV Ribbon and Ag Finger of EOL Solar Panels
Recovery of pure copper and silver from end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) panels was investigated in this paper using an effective hybrid pyro-hydrometallurgical process. In the first step of waste treatment, solar panel waste was first dismantled to obtain a PV sheet to be cut and calcined at 500 °C, to separate out PV ribbon from glass cullet, ash, and volatile while the silicon wafer containing silver finger was collected for recovery. In the second step of metal recovery, copper recovery from PV ribbon was via 1-3 M HCl leaching with SnCl₂ and H₂O₂ additions in order to remove the tin-lead coating on the ribbon. The leached copper band was cleaned and subsequently melted as an anode for the next step of electrorefining. Stainless steel was set as the cathode with CuSO₄ as an electrolyte, and at a potential of 0.2 V, high purity copper of 99.93% was obtained at 96.11% recovery after 24 hours. For silver recovery, the silicon wafer containing silver finger was leached using HNO₃ at 1-4 M in an ultrasonic bath. In the next step of precipitation, silver chloride was then obtained and subsequently reduced by sucrose and NaOH to give silver powder prior to oxy-acetylene melting to finally obtain pure silver metal. The integrated recycling process is considered to be economical, providing effective recovery of high purity metals such as copper and silver while other materials such as aluminum, copper wire, glass cullet can also be recovered to be reused commercially. Compounds such as PbCl₂ and SnO₂ obtained can also be recovered to enter the market.
[1] Renewables 2020 Global Status Report, (Paris: REN21 Secretariat). ISBN 978-3-948393-00-7.
[2] Directive 2012/19/Eu of The European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) (recast).
[3] V. Fthenakis, “Management/Recycling –US Status” Columbia University and Brookhaven National Laboratory PV Waste, IEA-PVPS /IRENA PV End-of-Life Management Workshop EUPVSEC, Munich, June 22 2016.
[4] A. Sharma, S. Pandey, M. Kolhe, “Global review of policies & guidelines for recycling of solar PV modules”, International Journal of Smart Grid and Clean Energy. vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 597-610, Sep. 2019.
[5] K. Komoto, PV Recycling in Japan, IEA PVPS Task12: Industry Workshop, 29 Nov. 2018.
[6] P. Manomaivibool, S. Vassanadumrongdee, “A hybrid law model for the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment: a case of the new draft law in Thailand”, Applied Environmental Research, vol. 38, no. 1, 2016, pp. 1-10.
[7] Performance on Alternative Energy Policy: October 2019 - September 2020 Report, Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy, Thailand.
[8] Alternative Energy Development Plan: AEDP2015, Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy, Thailand.
[9] Thailand PV status report 2016-2017, Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy, Thailand.
[10] J. R. Bohland, Oregon; I. I. Anisimov Recycling Silicon Photovoltaic Modules, 6063995, United States Patent, 2000.
[11] G. Moon, K. Yoo, “Separation of Cu, Sn, Pb from photovoltaic ribbon by hydrochloric acid leaching with stannic ion followed by solvent extraction”, Hydrometallurgy, vol. 171, 2017, pp. 123–127.
[12] W.-S. Chen, Y.-J. Chen and K.-C. Yueh, “Separation of valuable metal from waste photovoltaic ribbon through extraction and precipitation”, Journal of Korean Institute of Resources Recycling, vol. 29, no. 2, 2020, pp. 69-77.
[13] S. Kim, J.-chun Lee, K.-sek Lee, K. Yoo, R. D. Alorro, “Separation of tin, silver and copper from waste Pb-free solder using hydrochloric acid leaching with hydrogen peroxide”, Materials Transactions, vol. 55, no. 12, 2014, pp. 1885-1889.
[14] S.-hun Lee, K. Yoo, M. K. Jha, J.-chun Lee, “Separation of Sn from waste Pb-free Sn–Ag–Cu solder in hydrochloric acid solution with ferric chloride”, Hydrometallurgy, vol. 157, 2015, pp. 184–187.
[15] Y. K. Yi, H. S. Kim, T. Tran, S. K. Hong, M. J. Kim, “Recovering valuable metals from recycled photovoltaic modules”, Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, vol. 64, no. 7, 2014, pp. 797–807.
[16] G. Rimaszeki, T. Kulcsar, T. Kekesi, “Application of HCl solutions for recovering the high purity metal from tin scrap by electrorefining”, Hydrometallurgy, vol. 125–126, 2012, pp. 55–63.
[17] M. Stelter, H. Bombach, “Process optimization in copper electrorefining”, Advanced Engineering Materials, 2004, vol. 6, no. 7, pp. 558 – 562.
[18] R. Marković, B. Friedrich, J. Stajić–Trošić, B. Jordović, B. Jugović, M. Gvozdenović, J. Stevanović, “Behaviour of non-standard composition copper bearing anodes from the copper refining process”, Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 182, 2010, pp. 55–63.
[19] L.L. Martínez, M. Segarra, M. Fernándes, F. Espiell, “Kinetics of the dissolution of pure silver and silver-gold alloys in nitric acid solution”, Metallurgical Transaction B, Vol. 24, 1993, p. 827 – 837.
[20] N. Wongnaree, W. Kritsarikun, N. Ma-ud, C. Kansomket, T. Patcharawit, and S. Khumkoa, “Recovery of Silver from Solar Panel Waste: An Experimental Study”, Materials Science Forum, vol. 1009, 2020, pp. 137-142.
[21] M.B. Mooiman, L. Simpson, “Refining of gold- and silver bearing doré, Gold processing”, edited by M. D. Adams, Elsevier, 2016, p.595-615.
[22] P. Rachdawong, et. al, Management of expired solar PV panels, Thailand Research Fund Report, 2016, pp.105.
[23] S. Khumkoa, Recycling Technology Implementation Boost-up Project for Sustainably Renewable Resources towards the Development of an Eco-Industrial Town in ECC (Rayong, Chonburi and Prachinburi) Full Report, 2019. p.504.
[1] Renewables 2020 Global Status Report, (Paris: REN21 Secretariat). ISBN 978-3-948393-00-7.
[2] Directive 2012/19/Eu of The European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) (recast).
[3] V. Fthenakis, “Management/Recycling –US Status” Columbia University and Brookhaven National Laboratory PV Waste, IEA-PVPS /IRENA PV End-of-Life Management Workshop EUPVSEC, Munich, June 22 2016.
[4] A. Sharma, S. Pandey, M. Kolhe, “Global review of policies & guidelines for recycling of solar PV modules”, International Journal of Smart Grid and Clean Energy. vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 597-610, Sep. 2019.
[5] K. Komoto, PV Recycling in Japan, IEA PVPS Task12: Industry Workshop, 29 Nov. 2018.
[6] P. Manomaivibool, S. Vassanadumrongdee, “A hybrid law model for the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment: a case of the new draft law in Thailand”, Applied Environmental Research, vol. 38, no. 1, 2016, pp. 1-10.
[7] Performance on Alternative Energy Policy: October 2019 - September 2020 Report, Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy, Thailand.
[8] Alternative Energy Development Plan: AEDP2015, Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy, Thailand.
[9] Thailand PV status report 2016-2017, Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy, Thailand.
[10] J. R. Bohland, Oregon; I. I. Anisimov Recycling Silicon Photovoltaic Modules, 6063995, United States Patent, 2000.
[11] G. Moon, K. Yoo, “Separation of Cu, Sn, Pb from photovoltaic ribbon by hydrochloric acid leaching with stannic ion followed by solvent extraction”, Hydrometallurgy, vol. 171, 2017, pp. 123–127.
[12] W.-S. Chen, Y.-J. Chen and K.-C. Yueh, “Separation of valuable metal from waste photovoltaic ribbon through extraction and precipitation”, Journal of Korean Institute of Resources Recycling, vol. 29, no. 2, 2020, pp. 69-77.
[13] S. Kim, J.-chun Lee, K.-sek Lee, K. Yoo, R. D. Alorro, “Separation of tin, silver and copper from waste Pb-free solder using hydrochloric acid leaching with hydrogen peroxide”, Materials Transactions, vol. 55, no. 12, 2014, pp. 1885-1889.
[14] S.-hun Lee, K. Yoo, M. K. Jha, J.-chun Lee, “Separation of Sn from waste Pb-free Sn–Ag–Cu solder in hydrochloric acid solution with ferric chloride”, Hydrometallurgy, vol. 157, 2015, pp. 184–187.
[15] Y. K. Yi, H. S. Kim, T. Tran, S. K. Hong, M. J. Kim, “Recovering valuable metals from recycled photovoltaic modules”, Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, vol. 64, no. 7, 2014, pp. 797–807.
[16] G. Rimaszeki, T. Kulcsar, T. Kekesi, “Application of HCl solutions for recovering the high purity metal from tin scrap by electrorefining”, Hydrometallurgy, vol. 125–126, 2012, pp. 55–63.
[17] M. Stelter, H. Bombach, “Process optimization in copper electrorefining”, Advanced Engineering Materials, 2004, vol. 6, no. 7, pp. 558 – 562.
[18] R. Marković, B. Friedrich, J. Stajić–Trošić, B. Jordović, B. Jugović, M. Gvozdenović, J. Stevanović, “Behaviour of non-standard composition copper bearing anodes from the copper refining process”, Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 182, 2010, pp. 55–63.
[19] L.L. Martínez, M. Segarra, M. Fernándes, F. Espiell, “Kinetics of the dissolution of pure silver and silver-gold alloys in nitric acid solution”, Metallurgical Transaction B, Vol. 24, 1993, p. 827 – 837.
[20] N. Wongnaree, W. Kritsarikun, N. Ma-ud, C. Kansomket, T. Patcharawit, and S. Khumkoa, “Recovery of Silver from Solar Panel Waste: An Experimental Study”, Materials Science Forum, vol. 1009, 2020, pp. 137-142.
[21] M.B. Mooiman, L. Simpson, “Refining of gold- and silver bearing doré, Gold processing”, edited by M. D. Adams, Elsevier, 2016, p.595-615.
[22] P. Rachdawong, et. al, Management of expired solar PV panels, Thailand Research Fund Report, 2016, pp.105.
[23] S. Khumkoa, Recycling Technology Implementation Boost-up Project for Sustainably Renewable Resources towards the Development of an Eco-Industrial Town in ECC (Rayong, Chonburi and Prachinburi) Full Report, 2019. p.504.
@article{"International Journal of Electrical, Electronic and Communication Sciences:80852", author = "T. Patcharawit and C. Kansomket and N. Wongnaree and W. Kritsrikan and T. Yingnakorn and S. Khumkoa", title = "Hybrid Recovery of Copper and Silver from PV Ribbon and Ag Finger of EOL Solar Panels", abstract = "Recovery of pure copper and silver from end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) panels was investigated in this paper using an effective hybrid pyro-hydrometallurgical process. In the first step of waste treatment, solar panel waste was first dismantled to obtain a PV sheet to be cut and calcined at 500 °C, to separate out PV ribbon from glass cullet, ash, and volatile while the silicon wafer containing silver finger was collected for recovery. In the second step of metal recovery, copper recovery from PV ribbon was via 1-3 M HCl leaching with SnCl₂ and H₂O₂ additions in order to remove the tin-lead coating on the ribbon. The leached copper band was cleaned and subsequently melted as an anode for the next step of electrorefining. Stainless steel was set as the cathode with CuSO₄ as an electrolyte, and at a potential of 0.2 V, high purity copper of 99.93% was obtained at 96.11% recovery after 24 hours. For silver recovery, the silicon wafer containing silver finger was leached using HNO₃ at 1-4 M in an ultrasonic bath. In the next step of precipitation, silver chloride was then obtained and subsequently reduced by sucrose and NaOH to give silver powder prior to oxy-acetylene melting to finally obtain pure silver metal. The integrated recycling process is considered to be economical, providing effective recovery of high purity metals such as copper and silver while other materials such as aluminum, copper wire, glass cullet can also be recovered to be reused commercially. Compounds such as PbCl₂ and SnO₂ obtained can also be recovered to enter the market.", keywords = "Electrorefining, leaching, calcination, PV ribbon, silver finger, solar panel.", volume = "16", number = "6", pages = "89-11", }
