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Sequential flotation of 4 components in silicon-based waste solar cells

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Abstract

Si, Al, Cu, and Ag particles’ mixture which mainly composes pulverized silicon-based waste solar cells were individually separated by the batch flotation experiments with high recovery and content, and then a general flow chart of the sequential flotation procedure of n-component was postulated including 2-, 3-, and 4-components. The n-component mixture was separated to 1: n-1 or i: j (i + j = n) by a flotation procedure and n-1 times operation was necessary to divide into the individual component. The first flotation process to separate Al into the froth layer was carried out with a collector of SDS solution after dipping Si, Al, Cu, and Ag mixture into the SDS solution. Si was separated in the froth by the second flotation with a collector of a commercial neutral detergent after Al etching by HCl, and Si, Cu and Ag mixture dipped in the detergent. The Cu and Ag mixture was calcinated at 673 or 773 K and dipped into the detergent, and the third flotation with the collector of the detergent led to Cu in the froth and Ag in the sediment. The 4-component mixture was successfully separated into each component by the 3-consecutive flotation processes.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to express our appreciation for the opportunity to discuss experimental results with Prof. N. Fukuda, Okayama University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Material and Energy Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, 1-1 Tsushima-naka, 3-chome, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan

    Mami Mizukawa, Noriko Nishimura, Md. Azhar Uddin & Yoshiei Kato

  2. Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Fundamental Engineering, Nippon Institute of Technology, 4-1 Gakuendai, Miyashiro-machi, Minamisaitama-gun, Saitama, 345-8501, Japan

    Yu-ichi Uchida

Authors
  1. Mami Mizukawa
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  2. Noriko Nishimura
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  3. Md. Azhar Uddin
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  4. Yoshiei Kato
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  5. Yu-ichi Uchida
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Correspondence to Yoshiei Kato.

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Mizukawa, M., Nishimura, N., Uddin, M.A. et al. Sequential flotation of 4 components in silicon-based waste solar cells. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 25, 2407–2416 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-023-01698-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-023-01698-5

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