Material purification

A method for producing ultra pure materials comprising providing a first station having a reduced pressure chamber and providing a reduced pressure source for reducing pressure in and withdrawing gases from the chamber, providing a porous gas distributor within the chamber, providing a material supply for supplying material to the porous gas distributor, providing a gas source connected to the porous gas distributor for supplying gas the distributor and through the distributor to the material in contact with the porous gas distributor, providing a heater adjacent the porous gas distributor for heating the material as gas is passed through the material, and providing one or more discharges for discharging treated material from the first station.

A method for producing ultra pure materials comprising providing at least one station for receiving material to be purified, positioning each additional station beneath a preceding station for receiving material discharged from the preceding station, in each station providing a reduced pressure chamber and providing a reduced pressure source for reducing pressure in and withdrawing gases from the at least one chamber, providing a porous gas distributor within the chamber, providing a material supply for supplying material to the porous gas distributor of the first station, providing a gas source connected to the porous gas distributor for supplying gas to the distributor and through the distributor to the material in contact with the porous gas distributor, providing a heater adjacent the porous gas distributor for heating the material as gas is passed through the material, and providing one or more discharges for discharging treated material from each station.

Purification process for producing ultrapure materials, comprising providing at least one reduced pressure chamber, providing a reactive or inert gas introduction/removal assembly connected to the chamber, providing at least one porous gas distributor within the chamber, providing a gas connected to the porous distributor and the material being purified, and providing at least one material supply to the chamber.

Purification method for producing ultrapure materials, comprising at least one reduced pressure chamber comprising reactive or inert gas introduction/removal assembly, a crucible for receiving the purified material from the purification station, at least one station for material purification employing porous distributor that might or might not have a lid, reactive gas connected to the purification station, means for material supply to the purification chamber, and means for discharge of the purified material.