Overview
The recovery of Silicon from common silicon content materials is an important factor in securing the
supply of strategic resources and the responsible and sustainable disposition of waste materials and by-products.
We encounter Silicon in the form of Quartz and Silica Sand which are the common names for Silicon Dioxide
(SiO2).
A common ubiquitous product manufactured from SiO2 is
Glass.
Silicon is a key component in Certain
Refractory & Abrasives
products and in the production of
FerroSilicon.
The largest impact on modern society is the use of silicon in Electronics &
Semiconductors.
The development of the use of Silicon based products has been aided by advancement in the methods used in
the processing and refining of
high purity
Silicon.
Quartz & Silica Sand
Silicon Dioxide SiO2 is an earth abundant mineral commonly encountered as Quartz Crystals and spread
within mineral complex rocks.
As the rock materials erode into small pieces they occur as fragmented SiO2 crystal particles referred to as Silica Sand.
Glass
Common glass is manufactured from a blend of
Silica Sand
and
soda ash.
Glass Recycling
is a well established procedure for the recovery of waste bottles, containers, windows and miscellaneous glass products.
The recycling of
fiberglass
and
composite
materials containing glass fibers may present more of a challenge.
The conversion of scrap glass and fiber materials into Silicon based
products
is a lessor established process.
Silicon Carbide
Silicon Carbide SiC, common known as Carborundum is widely used within the
Refractory & Abrasives
Industry and also in
ceramics.
This mineral component maintains a fixed Melting point of 2,830 °C
The use of Silicon Carbide in the
electronics
industry is a field of developing technology.
FerroSilicon
In the metallurgy industry
FerroSilicon
is used mainly as a deoxidizing or reducing agent, in the production of stainless steel,
and in the alloying of steel and cast-iron foundries.
Silicon Semiconductors
The use of Silicon in the world of electronics has resulted in the development of semiconductors, Integrated Circuits and
a wide number of modern devices.
In reference to solid state, direct to electricity harvesting devices, the most common in current use are
Photovoltaic
Solar Cells, Thermo Electric Generators
(TEGs)
and
Piezoelectric
Crystals.
The recovery of
electronics scrap
is a priority to maintain a sustainable economy.
Silicon Purification
The development of the use of Silicon based products has been aided by advancement in the methods used
in the processing and refining of high purity Silicon.
Purification,
growing silicon crystals with the Czochralski method or a vapor deposition process is common method to produce wafers.
The Oxidation/Reduction &
Displacement
of Silicon Dioxide SiO2 materials to produce
Recovered Silicon Powders that may be manufactured into specialty value added Silicon based products
is not currently a well established practice.
Silicon Recovery Information
For anyone seeking current information or research data on the silicon recycling industry,
you may access and ask your
Recycling Questions
to a core group of experienced and knowledgeable recycling industry professionals.
