Analysis of the Composition and Properties of the Silicon Production Wet Cleaning Sludge to Identify Sustainable Techniques for its Processing

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the urgent issue of processing the dust waste of metallurgical-grade silicon production, i.e. wet cleaning sludge, which contains a significant amount of valuable silica. The paper analyzes the formation of finely dispersed techno-genic materials that are generated in significant quantities (up to 120 t/d) at the Kremniy JSC. The composition and properties of the silicon production wet cleaning product have been studied. In analytical studies of the wet cleaning sludge samples, the modern certified analysis techniques have been used: laser diffraction, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray fluorescence. According to the analysis, the L:S ratio of liquid sludge is 2.1:1; after dehydration, the sludge cake has a grain size of 150 μm, with the prevailing (90 %) grain size of 59.65 μm in the test sample. The chemical composition of the sludge is 95.86 % SiO2; therefore, the wet cleaning sludge is a valuable raw material to produce metallurgical-grade silicon. Based on the analysis of the composition and properties of the silicon production wet cleaning sludge sample, we have developed a program for its processing. Sustainable sludge processing techniques are aimed at obtaining a briquetted charge, which can be used as an additive to the main raw material.