Reclaim’s robust recycling process utilises Pyrolysis* - a well-known thermal deconstruction technique - to break down and pull apart PV panels into their component parts by passing them through a high-temperature furnace.
Upon completion of the thermal extraction process, the recovered components are sorted and placed into collection bins for delivery to materials companies, ensuring all recoverable materials are available for re-use.
The following two stages involve silver recovery through a chemical process and then further refining of the silicon cells to enable supply to Australia’s only silicon manufacturing company.
Recoverable materials available within PV modules include Aluminium, Copper, Glass, Plastics, Silver, Lead and Silicon.
01
Receipt and storage of panels in specialist facility
02
Load panels into furnace
03
Pyrolysis*
04
Remove panels from furnace
05
Materials sent to recyclers
Aluminium, Copper, Glass, Plastics, Silver, Lead and Silicon
*Reclaim’s controlled pyrolysis method involves heating the panels in regulated conditions to flash points for simple separation of the elements within the panel, resulting in lower overall energy demand and increased CO2 offset versus other pyrolysis methods being used.