Solvent versus thermal treatment for glass recovery from end of life photovoltaic panels: Environmental and economic assessment

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

卷:248

Article

Pagnanelli, Francesca^1,2  Moscardini, Emanuela²  Altimari, Pietro^1,2  Padoan, Flavia C. S. M.¹  Atia, Thomas Abo¹  Beolchini, Francesca^2,3  Amato, Alessia³  Toro, Luigi² 

[1] Sapienza Univ Rome, Dept Chem, Ple A Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy

[2] Eco Recycling Srl, Via Vannina 88-94, I-00156 Rome, Italy

[3] Univ Politecn Marche, Dept Life & Environm Sci, Via Brecce Bianche, Ancona, Italy

关键词: Recycling;    Photovoltaic panel;    Solvent treatment;    Thermal treatment;    LCA;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109313

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

End of life photovoltaic panels of different technologies (poly crystalline Si, amorphous Si, and CdTe) were treated mechanically in pilot scale by single shaft shredder minimizing the production of fine fractions below 0.4 mm (< 18% weight). Grounded material was sieved giving: an intermediate fraction (0.4-1 mm) of directly recoverable glass (18% weight); a coarse fraction (which should be further treated for encapsulant removal), and fine fractions of low-value glass (18%), which can be treated by leaching for the removal of metal impurities. Encapsulant removal from coarse fraction was successfully performed by solvent treatment using cyclohexane at 50 degrees C for 1 h giving high-grade glass (52% weight), which can be reused for panel production. Experimental results of solvent treatment were compared with those from thermal treatment by economic analysis and Life Cycle Assessment, denoting in both cases the advantages of solvent treatment in recovering high-value glass.

【 授权许可】

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