Silicon Production Using Alternative Raw Material Source

Abstract

During the process of the rice hulls pyrolysis at the pilot plant the silicacarbon (SC) was produced containing 51.2% of total carbon, 38.7% of silicon dioxide and 7.6% of hydrocarbons. Its secondary heat treatment with air supply resulted in generation of the two products: SC-1 (50.4% of SiO 2 ; 48.2% of С; 0.56% of Са; and 0.4% of Fe), and SC-2 (76.45% of SiO 2 ; 22.1% of С; 0.95% of Са; and 0.55% of Fe). After treatment with the 1% HCl solution the content of Са and Fe in these products decreased to 0.15% and 0.16%, respectively. Silica gel (88.4% of SiO 2 , 11.0% of Н 2 О) and carbon (95% of С, 4.5% of SiO 2 ) were produced from SC after its treatment with the NaOH solution. Characteristics of the result products were studied using the infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. SC is a composite alloy formed by nanoparticles of amorphous carbon (~500Å) and silicon dioxide (100–200 Å). Carbon is presented by graphite-li - ke (Gph), polynaphthenic (Nph) and hydrocarbon (Hph) phases. Amorphous SiO 2 is presented by opal. Three types of charging materials with SiO 2 :С~2.5 proportion were produced from SC-1 and SC-2, from SC-1 and quartz, and from quartz and silica gel. At the pressure of 20 MPascal briquettes were produced from each charging material, which upon drying at air (100°С) and furnacing (300°С) in the inert atmosphere had the strength of 25-38 kg/cm 2 . After smelting the briquettes in an electric arc furnace, the silicon product with the content of 98-99% Si was produced. In industrial conditions after ladle refining the content of Са and Fe in silicon will be reduced down to 0.3–0.4%.