UNSW researchers were able to recover silicon from end of life solar PV panels pure enough for re-use in silicon carbide-based devices. Their novel multi-step method which includes thermal and chemical processes, also recovers silver.

The study:Microrecycling of waste solar cells via an in-situ fluorine-generating thermal treatment for high purity silicon recovery

Note: Can anyone tell what are the effects of these chemical processes to the environment / living beings?