Recovery of Lead in Silicon Solar Modules

Chapter 50 Recovery of Lead in Silicon Solar Modules Natalie Click, Natalie Click Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USASearch for more papers by this authorRandy Adcock, Randy Adcock Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USASearch for more papers by this authorMeng Tao, Meng Tao Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USASearch for more papers by this author Natalie Click, Natalie Click Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USASearch for more papers by this authorRandy Adcock, Randy Adcock Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USASearch for more papers by this authorMeng Tao, Meng Tao Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USASearch for more papers by this author Book Editor(s):Nabil Nasr, Nabil Nasr REMADE Institute, Rochester, New York, USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 26 January 2024 https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394214297.ch50 AboutPDFPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShareShare a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Summary Silicon solar modules contain toxic lead (Pb) in the solder. To prevent contamination of the environment, it is imperative all the Pb is recovered from end-of-life silicon solar modules. In this study, acetic acid (AcOH) is shown as a successful leaching agent for Pb from solder and end-of-life silicon solar cells. Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) is used to facilitate Pb leaching. To quantify the effect of H 2 O 2 , 3 g of virgin solder ribbon was leached for 24 hours using 16.5 mL of 10% v/v AcOH and different mole ratios of H 2 O 2 to Pb with and without stirring. It was observed that the amount of mass loss from the solder increases with H 2 O 2 amount. The leachate with a mole ratio of 1.5:1 H 2 O 2 :Pb and no stirring was electrowon using two half cells with a potassium chloride (KCl) salt bridge. Gray-colored dendrites were formed on a graphite working electrode by applying a potential of –0.8 V vs the silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) reference electrode. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging shows large, flat Pb crystallites. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) of the dendrites confirms that they are metallic Pb. No tin (Sn) is found in the dendrites, and leaching studies of Sn in AcOH + H 2 O 2 confirm Sn does not leach into solution. Finally, Pb leaching from an end-of-life silicon solar cell was tested. 25 cm 2 of solar cell was milled in liquid nitrogen, then leached in 178 mL of 10% v/v AcOH and 35 mL of H 2 O 2 for 80 hours with no stirring or heating. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) confirms 0.001 M Pb in the leachate, which suggests near complete leaching. References Riva , M. A. , Lafranconi , A. , D'Orso , M. I. , and Cesana , G. , Lead poisoning: Historical aspects of a paradigmatic "occupational and environmental disease." Saf. 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