Patent ID: 6129779
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: C22B,Y02P,Y02W,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for reclaiming cadmium and tellurium from a cadmium telluride solar cell, said method comprising:(A) providing at least one cadmium telluride solar cell comprising a glass substrate, a polymeric substrate, cadmium and tellurium;(B) crushing the cell into pieces of solar cell, the pieces comprising pieces of glass and polymeric substances having cadmium and tellurium;(C) providing a vessel containing an acidic solution capable of dissolving the cadmium and tellurium;(D) placing the crushed cell pieces in the vessel to dissolve the cadmium and tellurium in the acidic solution to form an acidic effluent, comprising the cadmium, tellurium and the acidic solution, and a solid phase comprising the pieces of glass and polymeric substance;(E) separating the solid phase from the acidic effluent;(F) adding a precipitation agent to the acidic solution to form a precipitation sludge, containing the cadmium and tellurium, and a supernatant;(G) separating the precipitation sludge from the supernatant;(H) dispersing the precipitation sludge in an alkaline solution to form an electrolytic solution, comprising the tellurium, and a electrolytic sludge, comprising the cadmium;(I) separating the electrolytic sludge from the electrolytic solution; and(J) electrowinning the tellurium from the electrolytic solution.