Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T18:14:23.113Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An Integrated Chemical-Microbiological Approach for the Disposal of Waste thin Film Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic Modules

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

K. M. Paknikar ,
J.M. Rajwade ,
A. V. Pethkar ,
D. J. Goyal ,
P.G. Bilurkar  and
N. V. Mate
K. M. Paknikar
Affiliation:
Division of Microbial Sciences, MACS Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004, India
J.M. Rajwade
Affiliation:
Division of Microbial Sciences, MACS Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004, India
A. V. Pethkar
Affiliation:
Division of Microbial Sciences, MACS Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004, India
D. J. Goyal
Affiliation:
EcoSolar Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd, 2035/2 Sadashiv Peth, Tilak Road, Pune 411 030, India.
P.G. Bilurkar
Affiliation:
EcoSolar Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd, 2035/2 Sadashiv Peth, Tilak Road, Pune 411 030, India.
N. V. Mate
Affiliation:
EcoSolar Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd, 2035/2 Sadashiv Peth, Tilak Road, Pune 411 030, India.
Get access

Abstract

The paper describes a novel chemical-microbiological method for the selective removal of cadmium, tellurium and silver from the thin film CdTe photovoltaic modules. The chemical component of the process utilizes dissolution of metals with nitric acid. The metal solution is subjected to selective biosorption of silver and cadmium by passing through biosorbent columns. The adsorbed cadmium and silver are desorbed and recovered by chemical precipitation. Tellurium in solution coming out of the biosorbent columns is converted microbiologically to its metallic form in a bioreactor. The combined chemical-microbiological treatment ensures recovery of silver, cadmium and tellurium with 86%, 80% and 99% efficiency, respectively. The treated waste can be discharged safely in the environment.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 447: Symposium L – Environmental, Safety, and Health Issues in IC Pro…… , 1996 , 133
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Brown, J., Final Technical Report. Phase IT Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado, 1991.Google Scholar
2 Sasala, R., Zhou, T. and Kocher, W. in 1st World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion. Hawaii. 1994, p. 311–314 Google Scholar
3 Brierley, J., Goyak, G. and Brierley, C. in Immobilization of Ions by Biosorption, edited by Eccles, H. and Hunt, S., Ellis Horwood, Chichester, 1986, p. 105–117.Google Scholar
4 Lovley, D., Ann. Rev. Microbiol. 47, p. 263 (1993).Google Scholar
5 Puranik, P., Chabukswar, N. and Paknikar, K., Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 43, p. 1118 (1995)Google Scholar
6 Bhide, J., Dhakephalkar, P. and Paknikar, K., Biotechnol. Lett. 18, p. 667 (1996).Google Scholar