Pilot-Scale Aluminothermic Production of Silicon Alloy and Alumina-Rich Slag

As global demand for silicon (Si) and alumina continues to surge, the significance of developing more sustainable production methods has intensified. The SisAl process represents a path-breaking approach to producing Si and alumina by utilizing side streams from the silicon and aluminum industries. In the present work, a comprehensive series of pilot-scale trials was conducted to assess the scalability and validity of the SisAl process. The influences of reductant raw materials, charging methods, input material ratios, and other processing parameters were also investigated. On coupling between thermodynamic calculations and experimental results, it was demonstrated that the SisAl process is stable and controllable at a pilot scale. The typical composition of the produced Si alloy ranges from 70 to 75 wt % Si, 15-18 wt % Ca, and 8-10 wt % Al. The produced CaO-Al