Alkaline hydrolysis of photovoltaic backsheet containing PET and PVDF for the recycling of PVDF

Abstract Recovering fluorine from end-of-life products is crucial for the sustainable production and consumption of fluorine-containing compounds because fluorspar, an important natural resource fluorine, currently at a supply risk. In this study, we investigated feasibility chemically recycling photovoltaic (PV) backsheet fluoropolymer recycling. Herein, PV consisting laminated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was treated with different concentrations sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to hydrolyze PET layer water-soluble (Na 2 TP) separate pure PVDF as solid material. Optimized alkaline conditions (up 10 M NaOH 100 °C h) were determined, under which 87% could be decomposed without any significant deterioration layer. The hydrolysis kinetics in explained by modified shrinking-core model. Considering that mass panels Japan estimated increase approximately 280,000 tons per year 2036, backsheets are attractive candidates recycling, can effectively achieved using chemical approach demonstrated study.