Abstract: A process for producing trichlorosilane and equipment for practicing that process are disclosed. The process is a two stage process which combines the reaction of silicon tetrachloride and hydrogen with silicon with the reaction of hydrogen chloride with silicon. In one embodiment of the invention a two stage reactor is provided with a first stage heated to a temperature of about 500.degree.-700.degree. C. and a second stage maintained at a temperature of about 300.degree.-350.degree. C. Each of the first and second stages of the reactor are charged with silicon particles. A mixture comprising hydrogen and silicon tetrachloride are flowed through the silicon particles in the heated first stage to cause a partial hydrogenation of the silicon tetrachloride. The effluent from the first stage includes trichlorosilane and unreacted hydrogen and silicon tetrachloride. Hydrogen chloride is added to this effluent and the mixture of gases are passed through the silicon particles in the second stage of the reactor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of purifying silicon by introducing the silicon into liquid tin-lead alloy at a certain temperature. The silicon goes into solution with the tin-lead alloy, after which the temperature of the liquid metal solution is reduced to a temperature low enough to cause the solution to become super-saturated with respect to silicon which then solidifies as pure material. The solid pure silicon is withdrawn from the tin-lead solution leaving substantially all of the impurities behind.