During the production of high purity metals, for example silicon (Si) or titanium (Ti), many by-products may be produced. One by-product in particular is sodium fluoride (NaF). In current production of high purity Si, NaF is typically packaged and sold. It is used for hydrofluoric acid (HF) production, water fluoridation, as an additive in tooth paste, and the largest volume is for metallurgical fluxes or electrolytes such as those used to produce aluminum metal. If the NaF produced in very large quantities can be sold only for the lowest cost application, then this results in lower credits and, thus, lower revenue for the whole process.
Further adding to the raw material cost during the production of high purity metals, for example Si or Ti, is the need of a large continuous stream of a source of the metal. For example, to produce high purity Si a large continuous source of fluorosilicic acid (H2SiF6) is needed. Typically, the H2SiF6 is purchased as a by-product from the fertilizer industry. The present disclosure provides solutions to the issues described above.