• Resources Recycling
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.15-30
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• 2020

Recently, it is increasing a amount of installed solar-cell rapidly, and end-of-life photovoltaic(ELP) modules are generated in according to the reduction of cell efficiency largely. Recycling of ELP modules are begun at an advanced nation already, but there are bring about environmental contamination and resource recovery problems owing to not treated ELP modules because of economic cost completely. First of all, there were researched basic study for treatment conditions of used solar cell inspection, dismantling of aluminum frame, crushing / grinding & separation of tempered glass, removal of back sheet & EVA film, leaching & precipitation recovery of valuable metals and treatment of waste water. Therefore, we establish optimum conditions through carried out of designed apparatus, installation of equipment, test operation & trouble shooting in scale of 1ton/day pilot plant test. Following to economic review, it does have the economic efficiency until to the case of tempered glass recovery, but does not have the economic value in case of total processes until to recover the valuable metals. However, there are guaranteed economic value if we are gained a large amount of the expenses through EPR supported system. It was confirmed the commercialized possibility of ELP modules recycling if there were established on the collecting ELP modules, reusing criteria, economical technology, enactment of directives and enforcement of EPR supported system efficiently.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.19-29
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• 2019

Recently, it is increasing a amount of installized solar-cell rapidly, and waste Solar cell module are generated in according to the reduction of efficiency largely. Therefore, it is concerned at the environmental problems and recycling of valuable materials, greatly. The treatment processes of end-of-life photovoltaic modules are composed the disassembly of Aluminum frames, separation of Tempered glass, removal of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate and recovery of valuable Metals. For the efficient recycling, we are considered to the treatment technology seriously. And we are proposed on the general opinions according to the developing technology, EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) problems and promotion plans for the activation of recycling industry.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.52-58
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• 2022

Silicon carbide powder was prepared from carbon black and silicon recovered from waste solar panels. In the solar power generation market, the number of crystalline silicon modules exceeds 90%. As the expiration date of a photovoltaic module arrives, the development of technology for recovering and utilizing silicon is very important from an environmental and economic point of view. In this study, silicon was recovered as silicon carbide from waste solar panels: 99.99% silicon powder was recovered through purification from a 95.74% purity waste silicon wafer. To examine the synthesis characteristics of SiC powder, purified 99.99% silicon powder and carbon powder were mixed and heat-treated (1,300, 1,400 and 1,500 ℃) in an Ar atmosphere. The characteristics of silicon and silicon carbide powders were analyzed using particle size distribution analyzer, XRD, SEM, ICP, FT-IR, and Raman analysis.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2022

An environmental evaluation was conducted by employing LCA methodology for a mechanical seal manufacturing process that uses recycled silicon recovered from end-of-cycle PV modules. The recycled silicon was purified and reacted with carbon to synthesize β-SiC particles. Then the particles underwent compression molding, calcination and heat treatment to produce a product. Field data were collected and the potential environmental impacts of each stage were calculated using the LCI DB of the Ministry of Environment. The assessment was based on 6 categories, which were abiotic resource depletion, acidification, eutrophication, global warming, ozone depletion and photochemical oxidant creation. The environmental impacts by category were 45 kg CO₂ for global warming and 2.23 kg C₂H₄ for photochemical oxide creation, and the overall environmental impact by photochemical oxide creation, resource depletion and global warming had a high contribution of 98.7% based on weighted analysis. The wet process of fine grinding and mixing the raw silicon and carbon, and SiC granulation were major factors that caused the environmental impacts. These impacts need to be reduced by converting to a dry process and using a system to recover and reuse the solvent emitted to the atmosphere. It was analyzed that the environmental impacts of resource depletion and global warming decreased by 53.9% and 60.7%, respectively, by recycling silicon from end-of-cycle PV modules. Weighted analysis showed that the overall environmental impact decreased by 27%, and the LCA analysis confirmed that recycling waste modules could be a major means of resource saving and realizing carbon neutrality.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 2020

With rapid increasing production and installation, recycling of photovoltaic modules has become the main issue. According to the research, the accumulation of waste modules will reach to 8600 tons in 2030. Moreover, Crystalline-silicon (c-Si) Photovoltaic modules account for more than 90% of the waste. C-Si PV modules contain 1.3% of weight of photovoltaic ribbon inside which contains the most of lead, tin and copper in the PV modules, which would cause environmental and humility problem. This study provided a valuable metal separation process for PV ribbons. Ribbons content 82.1% of Cu, 8.9% of Sn, 5.2% of Pb, and 3.1% of Ag. All of them were leached by 3M of hydrochloric acid in the optimal condition. Ag was halogenated to AgCl and precipitated. Cu ion was extracted and separated from Pb and Sn by Lix984N then stripped by 3M H2SO4. The effect of the optimal parameters of extraction was also studied in this essay. The maximum extraction efficiency of Cu ion was 99.64%. The separation condition of Pb and Sn were obtained by adjusting the pH value to 4 thought ammonia to precipitate and separate Pb and Sn. The recovery of Pb and Sn can reach 99%.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2020

In this study, we predict the generation of end-of-life photovoltaic modules when Feed in Tariff applied, in Republic of Korea. Based on the installation of photovoltaic modules, we prepared three different senarios in order to estimate the generation of end-of-life photovoltaic modules. The senarios are i) early worn-out, ii) mid worn-out and iii) late-worn out senario. We selected the mid worn-out senario to estimated the amount of end-of-life photovoltaic modules in this study. Establishment of the end-of-life module generation scenario predicted generation of end-of-life photovoltaic module, and forecasted generation amount of end-of-life module to which Feed in Tariff was applied in consideration of installed photovoltaic modules installed by Feed in Tariff support. The generation of Feed in Tariff-applied end-of-life modules increased from 2021 to 2025 compared to without Feed in Tariff, and since then, the Feed in Tariff-applied end-of-life modules were generated as waste modules during the relevant period (2021 ~ 2025).