Comprehensive recycling and utilization of photovoltaic waste: Use photovoltaic glass waste to refine silicon kerf waste.

• An easy and efficient way to comprehensive recycling silicon kerf waste (SKW) and photovoltaic glass waste (PVGPs). • With the additive of PVGPs, the silicon yield has increased from 51.44% to 87.66%. • With the different phase affinity, the transfer of SiO 2 surface-layer and the separation of slag-silicon has been realized. • The network breakers (such as Ca2+ and F-) in the PVGPs destroyed the network structure of SiO 2 and provided a good micro-environment for silicon separation. Large amounts of silicon kerf waste (SKW) and photovoltaic (PV) glass waste are being generated as the PV industry grows. At present, independent approaches have been adopted to recycle these waste materials. In this work, an original approach was first proposed for recycling silicon by using PV glass particles (PVGPs) that refine SKW. Compared with the experiment wherein no PVGPs were added, silicon yield increased from 51.44% to 87.66%. Furthermore, the transfer of the SiO 2 surface-layer and the separation of silicon from slag were realized with different phase affinities. Moreover, network breakers, such as Ca2+ and F−, in PVGPs destroyed the network structure of SiO 2 and provided a favorable microenvironment for silicon separation. This work innovatively used PV glass waste to refine SKW. It is expected to provide a green cleaning solution for the circular development of the PV industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]