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Use of rice husk for emission neutral energy generation and synthesis of solar-grade silicon feedstock

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Abstract

The potential use of rice husk as a source of energy and also for producing high-purity silicon has been investigated by a combination of pilot trials, theoretical calculations and laboratory experiments. Rice husk was combusted at 850°C. Mass balance together with the pilot results indicates an electricity generation potential of 1 MWh per tonne rice husk. The process also generates 180 kg rice husk ash (RHA) that is used for production of high-purity silicon through a hybrid pyrometallurgical–hydrometallurgical process. The process consists of three major steps: purification of RHA by leaching and roasting, reduction by magnesium and recovery of silicon through two steps of leaching. The silicon generation process steps were optimized, showing that about 85% of silicon in the RHA can be recovered. The silicon product has a total impurity of <0.7%, hence it may be used as a suitable feedstock for production of solar-grade silicon.

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Acknowledgment

The silicon recovery part of this study was co-funded by Process Research Ortech Inc. and Ontario Centres of Excellence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Starkey & Associates Inc., Oakville, ON, Canada

    K. K. Larbi

  2. University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    R. Roy

  3. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, 140—184 College Street, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3E4

    M. Barati & A. McLean

  4. Process Research Ortech Inc., Mississauga, ON, Canada

    V. I. Lakshmanan & R. Sridhar

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  1. K. K. Larbi
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  2. R. Roy
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  3. M. Barati
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  4. V. I. Lakshmanan
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  5. R. Sridhar
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  6. A. McLean
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Correspondence to M. Barati.

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Larbi, K.K., Roy, R., Barati, M. et al. Use of rice husk for emission neutral energy generation and synthesis of solar-grade silicon feedstock. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 2, 149–157 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-012-0034-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-012-0034-6

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