Co-leads Dr Binesh Puthen Veettil and Dr David Payne from Macquarie University's School of Engineering hold a provisional patent on the precision approach, which complements the team's patented microwave-powered solar-panel delamination technology also licensed by Lithium Universe under the commercial partnership.
"We can selectively remove silver without touching other metals like aluminium, and without impacting the silicon cells and other components," Dr Veettil says. "Our solution is like a pressure washer for removing silver."
The Jet Electrochemical Silver Extraction (JESE) process directs a thin stream of weak acid onto silver traces in a panel, dissolving the metal in seconds while leaving everything else untouched. "The silicon wafer remains intact and uncontaminated, making it suitable for reuse in semiconductor manufacturing," Dr Veettil says.
Traditional recycling grinds entire panels and uses harsh chemicals, destroying valuable parts. The Macquarie method preserves components and extracts pure silver with greater than 77 percent current efficiency and minimal waste, and it pairs with microwave delamination to separate glass, silicon, and other materials without grinding or furnaces.
The waste challenge is mounting: global solar panel waste is forecast at 60-78 million tonnes by 2050, with Australia alone reaching one million tonnes by 2035. Each panel contains about 20 grams of silver worth A$36 (US$23), yet only 15 percent of used panels are currently recycled.
Market pressures add urgency. Silver demand is rising by 7 percent annually and is projected to reach around 20 million kg in 2025. A 3.3 million kg deficit is expected this year, and prices have more than doubled from just under US$600 per kg in 2018 to US$1250 per kg today.
Lithium Universe will complete research and development before commercial deployment is in place by 2032, paying annual licensing fees and a sales royalty. "We have built a strong, solutions-focused partnership combining Macquarie's world-class research with our commercial vision," says Mr Tan. "Together, we are delivering a breakthrough recycling solution that recovers high-purity silver while preserving wafer integrity," he adds.
The team says the approach could expand to recover other metals such as gallium, indium, and copper from end-of-life panels. "This collaboration shows the impact university research can have when paired with industry vision," says Professor Sam Muller, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. "As Australia moves toward its target of 82 per cent renewable energy by 2030, we're not just solving the solar waste problem - we're creating a new resource stream to meet worldwide demand."
A video overview of the technology is available here.
Related Links
Lithium Universe
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
