Development of a Recycling Process and Characterization of EVA, PVDF, and PET Polymers from End-of-Life PV Modules

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Engineering
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• The expanding photovoltaic (PV) industry generates significant electronic waste from solar panels.
• PV panel waste presents an opportunity for recovering valuable secondary materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a unique and efficient procedure for recycling photovoltaic modules.
• To investigate methods for separating constituent materials from end-of-life PV panels.

Main Methods:

• A multi-stage recycling process was developed, starting with mechanical removal of aluminum frames and junction boxes.
• A mechanical-thermal method was employed to separate the glass component.
• Chemical delamination using toluene, enhanced by temperature and ultrasound, was used to separate ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and other components.

Main Results:

• The developed process effectively separates silicon cells, metal ribbons, EVA, and backsheet from PV modules.
• The purity of recovered polymers was confirmed using FTIR and elemental analysis.
• Thermal properties of the separated materials were characterized using DSC calorimetry.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrates a viable method for the chemical delamination and material recovery from PV module waste.
• The optimized process reduces solvent usage and enables the effective separation of valuable components for potential reuse.