Global Patent Index - EP 2534100 A1

EP 2534100 A1 20121219 - METHOD FOR RECOVERING SOLAR GRADE SILICON

Title (en)

METHOD FOR RECOVERING SOLAR GRADE SILICON

Title (de)

VERFAHREN ZUR RÜCKGEWINNUNG VON SOLARSILIZIUM

Title (fr)

PROCÉDÉ DE RÉCUPÉRATION DE SILICIUM DE QUALITÉ SOLAIRE

Publication

EP 2534100 A1 20121219 (EN)

Application

EP 11706954 A 20110214

Priority

  • GB 201002448 A 20100212
  • NO 2011000053 W 20110214

Abstract (en)

[origin: GB2477782A] A method of refining particulate silicon is disclosed, where the method comprises mixing the particulate silicon with a slag forming compound in a weight ratio, particulate silicon: slag forming compound, from 1:10 to 3:1 in a crucible, wherein the slag forming compound will form a liquid slag at the operating temperature of the process that has a viscosity lower than 2 Ns/m2and a wetting angle towards silicon of at least 20°, heating the mixture of particulate silicon and slag forming component to a temperature above the liquidus temperature of the slag and the silicon, injecting a stream of gas through the bottom of the crucible and maintain the gas flushing for a period of time, solidifying and cooling the molten mixture, and separating formed silicon agglomerates/lumps from the slag. The slag forming compounds may be SiO2, CaO, Li2O, MgO, Na2O, CaF2, NaF, SrO, BaO, MgF2, K2O, CaCO3, Na2CO3or MgCO3.

IPC 8 full level

H01L 31/18 (2006.01); C01B 33/037 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP GB)

C01B 33/037 (2013.01 - EP GB); H01L 31/182 (2013.01 - EP); Y02E 10/546 (2013.01 - EP); Y02P 70/50 (2015.11 - EP)

Citation (search report)

See references of WO 2011099870A1

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

DOCDB simple family (publication)

GB 201002448 D0 20100331; GB 2477782 A 20110817; GB 2477782 B 20120829; EP 2534100 A1 20121219; WO 2011099870 A1 20110818

DOCDB simple family (application)

GB 201002448 A 20100212; EP 11706954 A 20110214; NO 2011000053 W 20110214