# US 10,865,137 B2 · Method for recycling solar cell module glass

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,865,137 B2
- Document ID: US10865137B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/620,761
- Filed: 2018-09-21
- Published: 2020-05-14
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-27
- Assignees: Tottori Resource Recycling Inc.
- Applicants: Tottori Resource Recycling Inc.
- Inventors: Shigenori Nakano; Hiroki Tanaka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865137B2

## CPC

- C03C 11/007: {Foam glass, e.g. obtained by incorporating a blowing agent and heating}
- B09B 3/35: Shredding, crushing or cutting
- B09B 3/70: Chemical treatment, e.g. pH adjustment or oxidation (involving an extraction step B09B3/80)
- C03B 19/08: by foaming
- C03C 1/002: {Use of waste materials, e.g. slags}
- Y02P 40/50: Glass production, e.g. reusing waste heat during processing or shaping
- C03C: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
- B09B: DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C03B: MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

To provide a method for recycling a solar cell module glass, which enables development of other novel applications of a waste glass of a solar cell module while controlling an elution amount of Sb from the waste glass into water. Disclosed is a method for recycling a solar cell module glass, the method comprising: grinding a solar cell module glass into a glass powder; adding at least one foaming agent selected from SiC, CaCO3 and a seashell, and a particular inhibitor to the glass powder to produce a mixture; and heating the mixture to 700 to 1,100° C. to produce a foam glass.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for recycling a solar cell module glass, the method comprising:
grinding a solar cell module glass into a glass powder;
mixing the glass powder with at least one foaming agent selected from SiC, CaCO3 and a seashell, and an inhibitor containing a combination of Fe2O3 with CaSO4 or an inhibitor containing Al2 (SO4)3 to produce a mixture; and
heating the mixture to 700 to 1,100° C., thereby melting and foaming to produce a foam glass, and wherein a content of antimony in the glass powder of the solar cell module glass is 5 to 5,000 ppm.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The recycling method according to claim 1, wherein 0.1 to 15 g of the foaming agent is added per 100 g of the glass powder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The recycling method according to claim 1, wherein 0.1 to 25 g of the inhibitor is added per 100 g of the glass powder.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The recycling method according to claim 1, wherein an elution amount of antimony from the foam glass into water is less than 5 ppm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The recycling method according to claim 1, the method comprising mixing at least two inhibitors selected from Fe2O3, Al2 (SO4)3 and CaSO4 to produce a mixture.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method for recycling a solar cell module, the method comprising the method for recycling a solar cell module glass according to claim 1.