Intellectual Property India Publishes Patent Application for Novel Silicon Smelting Process

MUMBAI, India, Aug. 12 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202617014468 A) filed by Metix Proprietary Limited on February 10, 2026, for Novel Silicon Smelting Process.

Inventors include Moolman, Wynand David; Louw, Stephan Christiaan; and Geldenhuys, Isabella Johanna.

The application for the patent was published on August 07, 2026, under issue no. 32/2026.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for silicon smelting of low-quality silicon feedstock material. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for the smelting of low-quality feedstock material to achieve silicon yields at acceptable energy efficiency levels, whilst demonstrating a significantly lower carbon footprint. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for silicon smelting of a feedstock material, the process including the steps of: (i) feeding a feedstock material containing a source of SiO2 having an average particle size of 36 µm d50 25 mm, reductant and fluxes into an electrothermal furnace; (ii) heating the feedstock material containing a source of SiO2, reductant and fluxes, in the electrothermal furnace at a temperature of between 1400°C to 2500°C, whilst ensuring the continuous feeding of the feedstock material containing a source of SiO2, reductant and fluxes, by means of adjustable feeding chutes into the electrothermal furnace through a Loss-in Weight (LIW) system to control the power-to-feed balance to sufficiently melt the feedstock material containing a source of SiO2, reductant and fluxes, to a form a liquid silicon metal product, a liquid slag product and an off-gas containing SiO, CO and H2; wherein the electrothermal furnace is an Open Bath Furnace (OBF); (iii) recovering Si from the electrothermal furnace off-gas in a gas reactor by reducing SiO with H2 gas to form silicon metal; and (iv) recovering heat from the electrothermal furnace off-gas in a Waste Heat Recovery Unit (WHRU) by combustion of the process gas.

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