Development of low-temperature thermal decomposition recycling technology from photovoltaic modules to flat glass applications

Abstract The recycling method for thermal decomposition of photovoltaic modules is a recycling method that can completely remove EVA, which is a sealing material, and can neatly separate the cells and glass. However, most back sheets are made of PET, and if they are simply thermally decomposed, a large amount of complex bonded carbides (“soot”) is generated. We succeeded in suppressing the generation of soot by heating resin components such as PET and EVA, melting and dropping them into a ceramic filter supported by a catalyst, promoting the oxidation reaction, and separating the glass and the cells cleanly. It was confirmed that the thermal decomposed PV glass can be recycled into flat glass by a float glass manufacturing company.