Recycling of CdTe photovoltaic waste

Patent · Tue Apr 27 00:00:00 EDT 1999

OSTI ID:350314

Goozner, R E; Long, M O; Drinkard, Jr, W F

A method for extracting and reclaiming metals from scrap CdTe photovoltaic cells and manufacturing waste by leaching the metals in dilute nitric acid, leaching the waste with a leaching solution comprising nitric acid and water, skimming any plastic material from the top of the leaching solution, separating the glass substrate from the liquid leachate, adding a calcium containing base to the leachate to precipitate Cd and Te, separating the precipitated Cd and Te from the leachate, and recovering the calcium-containing base. 3 figs.

• Research Organization: Drinkard Metalox, Inc
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-95ER81951
• Assignee: Drinkard Metalox, Inc., Charlotte, NC (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5,897,685/A/
• Application Number: PAN: 8-855,873
• OSTI ID: 350314
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: 27 Apr 1999
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
14 SOLAR ENERGY
CADMIUM TELLURIDE SOLAR CELLS
MATERIALS RECOVERY
CADMIUM
TELLURIUM
ACID HYDROLYSIS
NITRIC ACID
PRECIPITATION
WASTE MANAGEMENT