Harnessing biotechnology for sustainable metal valorization from solar panel waste

Brian Johnston; Anabel Itohowo Ekere; Alireza Eslami Majd; David S. Adebayo; Zlatka Stoeva; Iza Radecka; Fideline Tchuenbou-Magaia

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115188

Harnessing biotechnology for sustainable metal valorization from solar panel waste

Brian Johnston
, Anabel Itohowo Ekere
, Alireza Eslami Majd
, David S. Adebayo
, Zlatka Stoeva
, Iza Radecka
, Fideline Tchuenbou-Magaia^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Faculty of Science and Engineering
Liverpool John Moores University
DZP Technologies Limited

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

1 Citation (SciVal)

17 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Rapid expansion of the renewable energy sector has generated a growing stream of discarded solar panels, posing a formidable environmental challenge in our environmentally conscious world. Bioleaching, a process involving various microbe-enzyme mediated techniques, is emerging as a transformative approach for valorizing solar panel waste into valuable resources. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of enzyme- and microbe-driven bioleaching techniques for extracting various elements such as copper or aluminum, from solar panels, incorporating the latest research findings spanning the last decade. Particular attention is given to the removal of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) resins, a common solar panel component, along with a detailed table of biopolymers used in selective and non-selective metal recovery, highlighting their principles, advantages, and disadvantages. This synthesis aims to illuminate the evolving landscape of bioleaching technologies and their pivotal role in promoting sustainable solar panel recycling.

Original language	English
Article number	115188
Number of pages	16
Journal	Waste Management
Volume	209
Early online date	20 Oct 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115188
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2026

Bibliographical note

Funding

This work was partially supported by the University of Wolverhampton Research Investment Fund (RIF4); Innovate UK project No: 833831 and by the ReACTIVE Too project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research, Innovation and Staff Exchange Program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (Project No. 871163).

Funders	Funder number
University of Wolverhampton
European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research, Innovation and Staff Exchange Program
Innovate UK	833831
H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions	871163

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

Circular economy
Environmental remediation
EVA resin degradation
Microbial bioleaching
Solar panel recycling

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10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115188Licence: CC BY 4.0

Harnessing biotechnology for sustainable metal valorization from solar panel waste
Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ).
Final published version, 4.58 MBLicence: CC BY 4.0

Cite this

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title = "Harnessing biotechnology for sustainable metal valorization from solar panel waste",

abstract = "Rapid expansion of the renewable energy sector has generated a growing stream of discarded solar panels, posing a formidable environmental challenge in our environmentally conscious world. Bioleaching, a process involving various microbe-enzyme mediated techniques, is emerging as a transformative approach for valorizing solar panel waste into valuable resources. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of enzyme- and microbe-driven bioleaching techniques for extracting various elements such as copper or aluminum, from solar panels, incorporating the latest research findings spanning the last decade. Particular attention is given to the removal of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) resins, a common solar panel component, along with a detailed table of biopolymers used in selective and non-selective metal recovery, highlighting their principles, advantages, and disadvantages. This synthesis aims to illuminate the evolving landscape of bioleaching technologies and their pivotal role in promoting sustainable solar panel recycling.",

keywords = "Circular economy, Environmental remediation, EVA resin degradation, Microbial bioleaching, Solar panel recycling",

author = "Brian Johnston and Ekere, \{Anabel Itohowo\} and Majd, \{Alireza Eslami\} and Adebayo, \{David S.\} and Zlatka Stoeva and Iza Radecka and Fideline Tchuenbou-Magaia",

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AU - Ekere, Anabel Itohowo

AU - Majd, Alireza Eslami

AU - Adebayo, David S.

AU - Stoeva, Zlatka

AU - Radecka, Iza

AU - Tchuenbou-Magaia, Fideline

PY - 2026/1/1

Y1 - 2026/1/1

N2 - Rapid expansion of the renewable energy sector has generated a growing stream of discarded solar panels, posing a formidable environmental challenge in our environmentally conscious world. Bioleaching, a process involving various microbe-enzyme mediated techniques, is emerging as a transformative approach for valorizing solar panel waste into valuable resources. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of enzyme- and microbe-driven bioleaching techniques for extracting various elements such as copper or aluminum, from solar panels, incorporating the latest research findings spanning the last decade. Particular attention is given to the removal of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) resins, a common solar panel component, along with a detailed table of biopolymers used in selective and non-selective metal recovery, highlighting their principles, advantages, and disadvantages. This synthesis aims to illuminate the evolving landscape of bioleaching technologies and their pivotal role in promoting sustainable solar panel recycling.

AB - Rapid expansion of the renewable energy sector has generated a growing stream of discarded solar panels, posing a formidable environmental challenge in our environmentally conscious world. Bioleaching, a process involving various microbe-enzyme mediated techniques, is emerging as a transformative approach for valorizing solar panel waste into valuable resources. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of enzyme- and microbe-driven bioleaching techniques for extracting various elements such as copper or aluminum, from solar panels, incorporating the latest research findings spanning the last decade. Particular attention is given to the removal of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) resins, a common solar panel component, along with a detailed table of biopolymers used in selective and non-selective metal recovery, highlighting their principles, advantages, and disadvantages. This synthesis aims to illuminate the evolving landscape of bioleaching technologies and their pivotal role in promoting sustainable solar panel recycling.

KW - Circular economy

KW - Environmental remediation

KW - EVA resin degradation

KW - Microbial bioleaching

KW - Solar panel recycling

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DO - 10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115188

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:105019098162

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JO - Waste Management

JF - Waste Management

M1 - 115188

ER -

Harnessing biotechnology for sustainable metal valorization from solar panel waste

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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Cite this