TY - JOUR
T1 - Selective delamination by milling as a first step in the recycling of photovoltaic modules
AU - Dobra, Tudor
AU - Thajer, Florian
AU - Wiesinger, Gerhard
AU - Vollprecht, Daniel
AU - Pomberger, Roland
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022/4/11
Y1 - 2022/4/11
N2 - The recycling of photovoltaic modules has been a topic of increasing interest over the last years. At industrial scale, delamination of the module structure, which represents the first step in the recycling process, is currently achieved by multi-stage crushing. However, the quality of the outputs obtained through subsequent processing is low and offers room for improvement. Milling was investigated as an alternative physical delamination method. Lab-scale experiments were conducted to evaluate the applicability of the technology in general, as well as comparing a process by which all non-glass layers are removed at the same time (one-step) with one where the backsheet is removed as a separate fraction (two-step). Furthermore, a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the resulting outputs in each case was performed. Results show effective delamination by the milling process. Advantages in comparison to the currently used delamination techniques are identified in regard to the quality of the recovered glass, which is separated directly during delamination as well as the fact that the subsequent processing can therefore be focused on the polymers, metals and silicon contained within the removed materials. Some possibly problematic aspects in regard to upscaling have also been identified and discussed. While the two-step process enables the recovery of more homogenous outputs, it is also associated with a higher effort regarding input characterization and the milling process itself. In order to reach a conclusion about which process option is more feasible, additional investigations concerning the milling process, the input material and the output fractions are needed.
AB - The recycling of photovoltaic modules has been a topic of increasing interest over the last years. At industrial scale, delamination of the module structure, which represents the first step in the recycling process, is currently achieved by multi-stage crushing. However, the quality of the outputs obtained through subsequent processing is low and offers room for improvement. Milling was investigated as an alternative physical delamination method. Lab-scale experiments were conducted to evaluate the applicability of the technology in general, as well as comparing a process by which all non-glass layers are removed at the same time (one-step) with one where the backsheet is removed as a separate fraction (two-step). Furthermore, a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the resulting outputs in each case was performed. Results show effective delamination by the milling process. Advantages in comparison to the currently used delamination techniques are identified in regard to the quality of the recovered glass, which is separated directly during delamination as well as the fact that the subsequent processing can therefore be focused on the polymers, metals and silicon contained within the removed materials. Some possibly problematic aspects in regard to upscaling have also been identified and discussed. While the two-step process enables the recovery of more homogenous outputs, it is also associated with a higher effort regarding input characterization and the milling process itself. In order to reach a conclusion about which process option is more feasible, additional investigations concerning the milling process, the input material and the output fractions are needed.
KW - end-of-life
KW - milling
KW - Photovoltaics
KW - recycling
KW - secondary raw materials
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85129214453&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09593330.2022.2061380
DO - 10.1080/09593330.2022.2061380
M3 - Article
C2 - 35358018
AN - SCOPUS:85129214453
SN - 0959-3330
VL - 43.2022
JO - Environmental technology
JF - Environmental technology
IS - ???
M1 - 2061380
ER -