Abstract: The present invention relates to a slurry containing water, amorphous silica particles having a particle size less than 1 ?m and silica flour with a particle size between 2-200 ?m. In order to stabilize the slurry, the slurry contains a polysaccharide. The invention further relates to a method for the production of a slurry containing water, amorphous silica having a particle size below 1 ?m, and silica flour with a particle size between 2-200 ?m, where a polysaccharide is added to a slurry of water and amorphous silica, whereafter the silica flour is mixed into the slurry of amorphous silica.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing microsilica having a reflectivity between 65 and 90% in a smelting furnace for production of ferrosilicon or silicon by using a charge comprising an SiO2 source and a solid carbonaceous reduction agent, where microsilica is recovered from the off-gases from the smelting furnace, wherein the solid reduction agent supplied to the furnace contains an amount of volatile matters of less than 1.25 kg per kg produced microsilica and that the temperature in the gas atmosphere in the furnace above the charge is kept above 500° C.