Silicon Purification
Purification stages from metallurgical silicon toward 8–9N purity.
The prepared silica is converted into metallurgical silicon by carbothermic reduction. This product, at roughly 98–99% purity, is not sufficient for high-technology applications. Our target is to reach the 8–9N (99.999999–99.9999999%) purity range by bringing impurities down to parts-per-billion levels through chemical purification stages.
Purification is the most knowledge-intensive stage of the value chain. Process design, energy consumption and closed-loop use of by-products are determined here.
- InputWashed silica, carbon reductant
- OutputHigh-purity silicon
- Target purity8–9N target