Civil & Environmental Engineering Professor, Dr. Daniel Gang, Leads Collaborative Research to Recover Tellurium from End-of-Life Solar Panels and Oilfield-produced Water Supporting U.S. Critical Mineral Supply.

A new collaborative project is developing technology to recover tellurium—a critical mineral—by extracting it from used and waste photovoltaic (PV) panels. This innovation aims to support sustainable supply chains while creating jobs and reducing environmental risks in Louisiana. Led by Dr. Daniel Gang, the effort includes the University’s Institute for Materials Research and Innovation (IMRI) and Energy Institute of Louisiana (EIL), in partnership with First Solar, the Tunica Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, and Covenant Energy Group. With over $750,000 in combined support from the Louisiana Board of Regents, the University, and industry partners, the project will also explore tellurium recovery from oilfield-produced water, leveraging existing infrastructure in the state’s oil, gas, and water treatment sectors. Together, the partners are advancing circular economy solutions through innovative materials recovery.