Process to recycle end of life CDTE modules and manufacturing scrap
AssigneeColorado School of Mines
InventorsPatrick Taylor, Makko DeFilippo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for recycling of thin film Cadmium Telluride photovoltaic modules at the end of their life, and manufacturing scrap, has been developed. This method allows for minimum glass fine generation, requires little or no acid compared to other methods, and generates a pure cadmium and tellurium product at recoveries in excess of about 80 percent. In addition, the process allows for the recovery of a clean soda-lime plate glass product.
Claims20
A method of recycling coated substrates, comprising:
- subjecting a substrate comprising a thin film to an oxidation in an oxygen containing environment to produced an oxidized thin film;
- subjecting the oxidized thin film to an alkaline leach to produce a solid containing cadmium and a solution containing tellurium;
- and
- recovering tellurium from the solution containing tellurium.
A method of recycling a photovoltaic module comprising a substrate, a coating, and a secondary substrate, the method comprising:
- subjecting the photovoltaic module to delamination to remove the secondary substrate;
- subjecting the photovoltaic module to an oxidation in an oxygen containing environment to produced an oxidized coating;
- subjecting the oxidized coating to an alkaline leach to produce a solid containing cadmium and a solution containing tellurium;
- and
- recovering tellurium from the solution containing tellurium.
A method of recycling a photovoltaic module, comprising:
- subjecting the photovoltaic module to a delamination in a nitrogen furnace, wherein the photovoltaic module comprises a secondary substrate and a coated substrate;
- removing a secondary substrate from the coated substrate;
- subjecting the coated substrate to a media blast until a thin film is recovered;
- subjecting the thin film to an oxidation in an oxygen containing atmosphere furnace to produced an oxidized thin film;
- leaching the oxidized thin film in an alkaline leach to produce a sludge containing cadmium and a solution containing tellurium;
- recovering cadmium from the sludge containing cadmium to produce a cadmium product;
- electrowinning the solution containing tellurium to produce a tellurium product;
- recovering the alkaline leach;
- and
- recycling the recovered alkaline leach to the leaching step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.