Recycling of CdTe photovoltaic waste

Patent · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:872725

Goozner, Robert E ^[1]; Long, Mark O ^[1]

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1. Charlotte, NC

A method for extracting and reclaiming metals from scrap CdTe photovoltaic cells and manufacturing waste by 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 and electrolyzing the leachate to separate Cd from Te, wherein the Te is deposits onto a cathode while the Cd remains in solution.

• Research Organization: Drinkard Metalox, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-95ER81951
• Assignee: Drinkard Metalox, Inc. (Charlotte, NC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5997718
• OSTI ID: 872725
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/205/423/
acid
cathode
cd
cdte
cdte photovoltaic
cells
comprising
comprising nitric
deposits
electrolyzing
extracting
glass
glass substrate
leachate
leaching
leaching solution
liquid
manufacturing
manufacturing waste
material
metals
method
nitric
nitric acid
photovoltaic
photovoltaic cell
photovoltaic cells
photovoltaic waste
plastic
plastic material
reclaiming
reclaiming metals
recycling
remains
scrap
scrap cdte
separate
separating
skimming
solution
solution comprising
substrate
top
waste
water