Science is offering a way that will allow the silicon project to go ahead without a charcoal factory. A new electrochemical process is promising cheaper, easier production of metals such as silicon and titanium.

The process was first used on titanium dioxide (see Nature 407, pp 361-364, 21 September 2000) but has since been found to work on almost any metal. Experiments have shown it to work with silicon production.

According to those working on the project the electrochemical process needs much less electricity and no coke, wood or charcoal and it produces a purer product.

Within a few months it is likely that the electrochemical method of producing silicon on a large scale will prove to be economically and environmentally superior to existing methods.

The economic situation at the moment is not ideal for starting silicon manufacture. As wary financiers have said, the world markets are in recession and subsidised Chinese exports will make competition very difficult. A silicon manufacturing industry in Australia based on old-fashioned charcoal technology, on long transport routes which will increase costs and cause charcoal wastage due to crumbling, and on subsidised electricity, would be a very shaky investment.

By waiting for better technology such as the electrochemical method of producing silicon there could be wins all round.

• The silicon could be produced more competitively.
• The Lithgow silicon smelter and Cowra quartz mine would still go ahead.
• Taxpayers would not have to subsidise the industry so heavily with road and bridge upgrades and road maintenance costs.
• Not as much electricity would be used.
• Greenhouse impacts would be less due to a smaller consumption of electricity, no production of charcoal, and less road transport.
• The south coast's tourism industry and the "Nature Coast" image in which the industry has invested so heavily would not be put at risk.
• The degrading impacts of a charcoal factory on health, road safety and social amenity would be avoided.
• Timber would be available for innovative new investment in true value-adding industries. Doing more with less timber will generate many more jobs for the region.
• Environmental damage to catchments and biodiversity would be reduced.

This is truly cutting edge technology that will also offer greater protection to our natural environment. This appears to be a far superior method of production and offers wins all round. The charcoal factory and its out-dated technology must be rejected.

References:

Chen, G.Z., D.J. Fray, and T.W. Farthing. 2000. Direct electrochemical reduction of titanium dioxide to titanium in molten calcium chloride. Nature 407(Sept. 21):361.

Sources:

George Z. Chen, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, United Kingdom

Harvey M. Flower, Department of Materials, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BP, United Kingdom

Derek J. Fray, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, United Kingdom

From Science News, Vol. 158, No. 13, Sept. 23, 2000, p. 197. Titanium Makes Move Towards Mainstream

See here for reference.