29 February 2024 | Ali Ghahremani, Scott D. Adams, Michael Norton, Sui Yang Khoo and Abbas Z. Kouzani
This review paper focuses on the delamination techniques used in the recycling of end-of-life (EOL) solar panels, which are crucial for recovering valuable materials such as silicon, glass, and rare metals. The paper highlights the environmental and economic benefits of effective delamination methods, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices in solar panel recycling. The review covers three primary delamination modes: mechanical, thermal, and chemical. Among these, mechanical delamination is deemed the most sustainable and cost-effective option due to its minimal environmental impact and ability to recover materials intact. The paper discusses various delamination techniques, including hot-knife technology, surface delamination, grinding, and densimetric recycling, which can achieve high purity and efficiency in recovering glass. Thermal delamination, while effective in recovering glass and silicon, is less economically viable due to high energy consumption. Chemical delamination is efficient in recovering silicon cells but produces toxic liquids. The paper also addresses the need for improving mechanical delamination techniques to increase the recovery rate of glass and silicon from crushed materials. Overall, the review emphasizes the importance of combining delamination techniques to enhance efficiency and sustainability in EOL solar panel recycling.This review paper focuses on the delamination techniques used in the recycling of end-of-life (EOL) solar panels, which are crucial for recovering valuable materials such as silicon, glass, and rare metals. The paper highlights the environmental and economic benefits of effective delamination methods, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices in solar panel recycling. The review covers three primary delamination modes: mechanical, thermal, and chemical. Among these, mechanical delamination is deemed the most sustainable and cost-effective option due to its minimal environmental impact and ability to recover materials intact. The paper discusses various delamination techniques, including hot-knife technology, surface delamination, grinding, and densimetric recycling, which can achieve high purity and efficiency in recovering glass. Thermal delamination, while effective in recovering glass and silicon, is less economically viable due to high energy consumption. Chemical delamination is efficient in recovering silicon cells but produces toxic liquids. The paper also addresses the need for improving mechanical delamination techniques to increase the recovery rate of glass and silicon from crushed materials. Overall, the review emphasizes the importance of combining delamination techniques to enhance efficiency and sustainability in EOL solar panel recycling.