Resource recovery from urban stock, the example of cadmium and tellurium from thin film module recycling

• Published in: Waste management (Elmsford) 2013-04, Vol.33 (4), p.942-947
• Main Authors: Simon, F.-G., Holm, O., Berger, W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; CADMIUM; Cadmium - isolation & purification; CADMIUM TELLURIDES; CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; Electric Power Supplies; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; Exact sciences and technology; Flotation; General treatment and storage processes; HAZARDOUS MATERIALS; MATERIALS SCIENCE; Other wastes and particular components of wastes; PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT; PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES; Pollution; RAW MATERIALS; RECYCLING; Recycling - methods; Sand blasting; SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS; Semiconductors; TELLURIUM; Tellurium - isolation & purification; Thin film technology; THIN FILMS; Wastes
• ISSN: 0956-053X; 1879-2456
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2012.12.025

► The semiconductor layer on thin-film photovoltaic modules can be removed from the glass-plate by vacuum blast cleaning. ► The separation of blasting agent and semiconductor can be performed using flotation with a valuable yield of 55%. ► PV modules are a promising source for the recovery of tellurium in the future. Raw material supply is essential for all industrial activities. The use of secondary raw material gains more importance since ore grade in primary production is decreasing. Meanwhile urban stock contains considerable amounts of various elements. Photovoltaic (PV) generating systems are part of the urban stock and recycling technologies for PV thin film modules with CdTe as semiconductor are needed because cadmium could cause hazardous environmental impact and tellurium is a scarce element where future supply might be constrained. The paper describes a sequence of mechanical processing techniques for end-of-life PV thin film modules consisting of sandblasting and flotation. Separation of the semiconductor material from the glass surface was possible, however, enrichment and yield of valuables in the flotation step were non-satisfying. Nevertheless, recovery of valuable metals from urban stock is a viable method for the extension of the availability of limited natural resources.