Lithium Universe, now looking at silver extraction from solar panels, boasts 95% recovery

Lithium Universe (ASX:LU7) has reported hitting silver recovery metrics of over 95% from discarded solar panels in a tech validation trial alongside Macquarie Uni focusing on Jet Electrochemical Silver Extraction (JESE) – with the lion’s share recovered in as little as 7 minutes of treatment.

Solar panels include trace amounts of silver paste, given that silver is actually a more conductive metal than copper (and is by far the most conductive element, though, isn’t as cheap as the red metal.) On Thursday, LU7 also claimed the JESE application uses less energy than other methods, at least in these early stage lab trials. The company reported its “next step is to check deposited silver purity levels.”

The overall focus on the recovery of precious metals from e-waste will be a familiar concept for those market watchers interested or invested in Metallium Ltd (formerly MTM Critical Metals) which uses different tech but shares an overall similar value prop. According to LU7, the lab trials using JESE stand as early validation of potential commercialisation – suggesting that the company is looking at not only securing silver from e-waste but also selling on rights to the process itself.

“The JESE process utilises a precision-controlled jet of dilute nitric acid, delivered under low applied voltage, directly onto the silver contacts of the wafer,” the company reported. “The process induces selective dissolution of silver into solution without significantly attacking aluminium busbars or the underlying silicon structure.” Adding to that, the company reported only 5 volts of energy was put through the system, which underscored ‘remarkable efficiency.’

“Crucially, silicon wafers subjected to JESE treatment remained intact and uncontaminated … this opens the door to downstream processing of wafers into solar-grade silicon or conversion into nanosilicon for lithium-ion battery applications.”

LU7 last traded at 1.2cps.

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Disclaimer: HotCopper had a commercial relationship with LU7 at the time this article was crafted and published.