Innovating the Recycling of Solar Panels with an Eco-Friendly Alkaline Leaching Process

The surge in waste from solar panels and associated materials necessitates more effective recycling solutions. Current methods for recycling solar panels are often economically unfeasible due to the complexity of disassembly and the low value of recovered materials, leading to prohibitively high service fees. Many approaches to streamline disassembly and improve the quality of recovered materials rely on expensive, toxic, and intricate processes. To address these challenges, we present a novel green recycling technique based on a simple alkaline leaching process. This approach facilitates the efficient recycling and refinement of solar cells, producing high-purity SiO₂ (99.994%) with a notable recycling rate of 92.74% and generating hydrogen gas as a sustainable byproduct. Preliminary cost analysis suggests significant commercial viability and profitability for this method. Our technique provides a promising new direction for enhancing the sustainability and economic feasibility of renewable energy technologies.