Methods and systems for purifying elements

A method of purifying a material, comprising:

• depositing solid material in a container;
• melting said solid material to form liquefied material;
• directionally solidifying a portion of said liquefied material to convert said liquefied material to a combination of purified solidified material and liquid remainder;
• removing said liquid remainder from said container;
• melting said purified solidified material to form re-liquefied purified material;
• and
• removing said re-liquefied purified material from said container.

A method of purifying a material, comprising:

• melting solid material to form liquefied material, said solid material comprising at least 95% silicon or at least 95% germanium;
• directionally solidifying a portion of said liquefied material to convert said liquefied material to a combination of purified solidified material and liquid remainder;
• and
• removing said liquid remainder from said purified solidified material.

A method of purifying a material, comprising:

• depositing solid material in each of a plurality of containers;
• and
• moving each of said containers in sequence through positions where:
• said solid material in each said container is melted to form liquefied material;
• a portion of said liquefied material in each said container is directionally solidified to convert said liquefied material to a combination of purified solidified material and liquid remainder;
• said liquid remainder in each said container is removed from said container;
• said purified solidified material in each said container is melted to form re-liquefied purified material;
• and
• said re-liquefied purified material in each said container is removed from said container.

A system for purifying a material, comprising:

• at least one container;
• a first melter which can create conditions under which a material being treated will melt to form a liquefied material;
• a solidifier which can create conditions under which a part of said liquefied material will directionally solidify to convert said liquefied material to a combination of purified solidified material and liquid remainder;
• a liquid remover which can remove said liquid remainder from said container;
• and
• a second melter which can create conditions under which said purified solidified material melts to form a re-liquefied purified material.

A system for purifying silicon and/or germanium, comprising:

• at least one container;
• a first heating zone which can create conditions under which silicon and/or germanium will melt to form a liquefied material;
• a thermal treatment zone which can create conditions under which a part of said liquefied material will directionally solidify to convert said liquefied material to a combination of purified solidified material and liquid remainder;
• a liquid remover which can remove said liquid remainder from said container;
• and
• a second heating zone which can create conditions under which said purified solidified material melts to form a re-liquefied purified material.