Production and purification of silicon by calcium reduction of rice-husk white ash

Abstract

Polycrystalline silicon of reasonable purity has been prepared by metallothermic reduction of purified rice-husk white ash (amorphous silica) by using calcium. The mechanism of reduction of the silica with calcium was investigated using simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis, which revealed the reduction temperature to be around 720‡ C. The paper also discusses the method of preparation of silicon and its purification procedure. Characterization of the silicon sample thus prepared was made by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and emission spectrography. © 1985 Chapman and Hall Ltd.