Silicon carbide as a raw material for silicon production

摘要

What is described is a process for the production of silicon via the carbothermic reduction of silicon dioxide in which silicon carbide is fed as the total reductant source or as a portion of the reductant input. The process also includes recovery and recycle to the furnace silicon monoxide and other silicon-containing materials from the by-produced gases from the furnace to maximize raw material efficiency. Finally, the process includes the recovery of value from the by-produced gases via the use of the gases as a chemical intermediate or the use of the gases as a fuel for a combustion process.