Feasibilities for silicon recovery from solar cells waste by treatment with nitric acid

Journal
Chemija  
Volume
31
Issue
3
Start Page
137
End Page
145
Citation
Chemija 3 (31): 137-145 (2020-07-19)
Publisher DOI
10.6001/CHEMIJA.V31I3.4287
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85093086959
Publisher
Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Publishers
The feasibilities of silicon recovering from solar cell waste (SCW) by treatment with nitric acid at its concentrations of 1, 2, 3 and 4M were investigated. The research results have shown that complete leaching of aluminum from the silicon matrix is not possible. It can be explained by formation of aluminum compounds with oxygen and silicon on the aluminum particles. Total silver leaching is achieved at maximal 4M concentrations of nitric acid. The influence of nitric acid concentrations on the leaching efficiency of these metals is significantly reduced at higher temperatures (up to 50°C). Higher metal leaching efficiency is characteristic of larger SCA particles under more favourable spatial conditions for penetration of nitric acid ions.
Subjects
Aluminum
Diffusion
Leaching efficiency
Silicon
Silver
Solar cells waste
Treatment by nitric acid
DDC Class
540: Chemie
600: Technik
More Funding Information
This research was particularly performed in the framework of scientific project ‘SCW to VM’, funded by Baltic–Germany University Liaison Office in 2019.