3 ms·
Silicon tetrachloride being a “highly toxic” “byproduct of producing crystalline silicon” is a new astroturfing mantra I’ve seen repeated lately. Too bad it’s r
by Robotbeat 5y ago
Silicon tetrachloride being a “highly toxic” “byproduct of producing crystalline silicon” is a new astroturfing mantra I’ve seen repeated lately. Too bad it’s recycled as part of the process (and is useful on its own for making high purity optical fibers) or solar enemies might have a point!
It is an intermediate product, not a waste product.
- philipkglass 5y agoThere was a highly publicized story in 2008 about Chinese silicon companies dumping it illegally. Ever since it's been repeatedly invoked as anti-solar ammunition. It's like constantly warning about melamine poisoning from milk because an unscrupulous company did that before too.
- kortex 5y agoAdditionally, in 2011 China set standards requiring that companies recycle at least 98.5 percent of their silicon tetrachloride waste. It's fairly easy and cost effective to recycle once you have the infrastructure in place. It seems most of the pollution reports are from before the mandate and also when precursors were way cheaper relative to the final product.
- pfdietz 5y agoSiCl4 is also entirely non-persistent in the environment. It reacts vigorously with water.