Skip to content

Comprehensive Utilization of Diamond Wire Saw Silicon Powder Waste and Low-Grade Mn Ore to Prepare a MnSi1.73–1.75-Rich Alloy

MetadataDetails
Publication Date2023-08-15
JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
AuthorsChenkangjian Zhang, Zhanchao Li, Yakun Zhang, Minpeng Lei, Wenhui Ma
InstitutionsPuer University, Kunming University of Science and Technology
Citations9

The rapidly developing photovoltaic industry is generating an increasing amount of diamond wire saw silicon powder waste (DWSSPW), and the current shortage of high-grade iron ore necessitates the utilization of low-grade Mn ore. The treatment of DWSSPW and low-grade Mn ores is important for the sustainability of Si and Mn resources. In this study, a concept of comprehensive utilization of low-grade Mn ore and DWSSPW is proposed. DWSSPW (90.1 wt % Si) was used as a cheap reductant to extract Mn from low-grade Mn ore (25 wt % MnO) and can be recycled as a raw Si-Mn alloy. The results showed 96.35% of the MnO in the low-grade Mn ore could be extracted by DWSSPW at 1500 °C. The oxide molten slag formed by the low-grade Mn ore eliminates the main impurity, O, from DWSSPW. The results showed 99.3% of the O in DWSSPW could be eliminated. Thereafter, electromagnetic directional solidification was used to separate and purify the raw Si-Mn alloy to prepare a useful MnSi1.73-1.75-rich alloy with a purity of 95.75%, a promising raw material for preparing Si-Mn composite anodes in lithium-ion batteries, thermoelectric materials, and a high-quality deoxidization and alloying agent in steelmaking. Finally, the method proposed in this study is considered green and economical compared to conventional methods.