Unlock instant, AI-driven research and patent intelligence for your innovation.

Method for recovering gallium, indium and germanium from waste thin film solar cells

A technology for solar cells and thin films, applied in the field of recycling gallium, indium, and germanium, can solve the problems of inhibiting the recycling of waste thin-film solar cells, complex processes, low efficiency, etc., and achieve the effects of reducing recycling costs, simple processes, and improving recycling efficiency.

Active Publication Date: 2015-10-21
GEM CO LTD
View PDF5 Cites 1 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0003] At present, the method of using waste thin film solar cells to recycle metals is complex and can only recycle a single metal element, resulting in high recycling costs and low efficiency, which seriously inhibits the technological development of recycling waste thin film solar cells

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Method for recovering gallium, indium and germanium from waste thin film solar cells

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment 1

[0053] A method for recovering gallium, indium, and germanium from waste thin-film solar cells, the specific steps are as follows:

[0054] Step S11. Obtain a first separation liquid containing metal ions of gallium, indium, germanium, cadmium, copper, tin, and zinc:

[0055] Add the pulverized waste thin-film solar cell powder with a particle size of 0.5 to 1 mm into a mixed solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid containing an oxidant. The mixture is stirred at a speed of 100r / min and reacted at 80°C for 6 hours. The first separation liquid of metal ions of, indium, germanium, cadmium, copper, tin, and zinc; wherein the hydrogen ion concentration in the mixed solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid is 1mol / L, and the ratio of moles of sulfuric acid to nitric acid is 1:0.4, The solid-to-liquid ratio of the mixed solution of waste thin film solar cell powder and sulfuric acid and nitric acid is 1g: 2ml; the oxidant is sodium chlorate, whose mass is 0.08 times the mass of thin f...

Embodiment 2

[0069] A method for recovering gallium, indium, and germanium from waste thin-film solar cells, the specific steps are as follows:

[0070] Step S21. Obtain a first separation liquid containing metal ions of gallium, indium, germanium, cadmium, copper, tin, and zinc:

[0071] Refer to step S11 in Example 1 for this step. The difference is: the stirring speed is 60r / min, the reaction temperature is 60°C, and the reaction time is 10 hours; the hydrogen ion concentration in the mixed solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid is 0.7 mol / L, the ratio of moles of sulfuric acid to nitric acid is 1:0.3, the solid-to-liquid ratio of waste thin film solar cell powder and the mixed solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid is 1g:1ml; the oxidant is hydrogen peroxide, and its mass is the mass of thin film solar cell powder 0.1 times of

[0072] Step S22. Obtain the second separation liquid:

[0073] Refer to step S12 in Example 1 for this step. The difference is that the pH value of the first s...

Embodiment 3

[0086] A method for recovering gallium, indium, and germanium from waste thin-film solar cells, the specific steps are as follows:

[0087] Step S31. Obtain a first separation liquid containing gallium, indium, germanium, cadmium, copper, tin, and zinc metal ions:

[0088] Refer to step S11 in Example 1 for this step. The difference is: the stirring speed is 200r / min, the reaction temperature is 99°C, and the reaction time is 3 hours; the hydrogen ion concentration in the mixed solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid is 0.5 mol / L, the ratio of moles of sulfuric acid to nitric acid is 1:0.6, the solid-to-liquid ratio of waste thin film solar cell powder and the mixed solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid is 1g: 3ml; the oxidant is potassium permanganate, and its quality is thin-film solar cell 0.1 times the mass of powder;

[0089] Step S32. Obtain the second separation liquid:

[0090] Refer to step S12 in Example 1 for this step. The difference is that the pH of the first sep...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

The invention provides a method for recycling gallium, indium and germanium from wasted thin-film solar cells. The method includes the steps: obtaining first separation liquid containing metal ions of the gallium, the indium, the germanium, cadmium, copper, tin and zinc; obtaining second separation liquid; obtaining filter residues containing the gallium, the indium, the germanium and the tin; obtaining fourth separation liquid and an indium and germanium metal solid which is not dissolved in a lye solution; conducting the steps of recycling gallium metal; conducting the steps of recycling indium metal; and conducting the steps of recycling germanium metal. According to the method for recycling the gallium, the indium and the germanium from the wasted thin-film solar cells, various dissipated metal such as the gallium, the indium and the germanium can be respectively recycled step by step, recycling cost can be effectively reduced, the recycling efficiency is improved, and the method is simple in process and is suitable for industrial production. In addition, through the method for recycling the gallium, the indium and the germanium from the wasted thin-film solar cells, the various dissipated metal such as the gallium, the indium and the germanium is high in purity, and the purity can reach up to 99.99%.

Description

Technical field [0001] The invention relates to a method for recovering gallium, indium and germanium from waste thin film solar cells. Background technique [0002] Thin-film solar cells are one of the solar cells, and their main components are silicon dioxide, aluminum, silicon, polymers, zinc, and part of the heavy metals of arsenic, cadmium, and rare metals of gallium, indium, and germanium. Due to its good flexibility, the thin-film solar cell can be combined with buildings or become a part of the building. It is widely used and has a large annual output. However, the number of waste thin-film solar cells is also large each year. The waste thin film solar cell is directly discarded, and the scattered metals such as gallium, indium, germanium, and toxic elements such as arsenic and cadmium contained in it will cause harm to the environment and a waste of resources. Especially the non-renewability of the scattered metals of gallium, indium and germanium makes it urgent and im...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & Authority Patents(China)
IPC IPC(8): H01L31/18
CPCY02P70/50Y02W30/82
Inventor 王勤何显达苏陶贵张翔
Owner GEM CO LTD