NOVELTY - A process (M1) for converting silicon tetrachloride into silicon metal involves: contacting gaseous silicon tetrachloride with a liquid metal phase of zinc to obtain silicon-bearing metal phase and zinc-chloride; separating the zinc-chloride; and purifying the silicon-bearing metal phase and injecting twelve carbons and/or a gaseous silicon chloride compound into the metal phase.    USE - For converting silicon tetrachloride into silicon metal (Claimed) as feedstock material for the production of e.g. crystalline silicon solar cells.    ADVANTAGE - The method does not require complicated technologies and preserves the high purity of the SiCl4 towards the end product; produces only other reactant as Zn which can be obtained in a very high purity grades and which can be recycled after electrolysis of the Zn-chloride; recycles at least one of the different streams which are not considered as end-products; produces Zn-chloride that can be subjected to molten salt electrolysis, thus recovering Zn, which can be recycled to the SiCl4 reduction step, and chlorine, which can be recycled to a Si chlorination process for the production of SiCl4. The Zn that is vaporised in the purification step can be condensed and recycled to the SiCl4 contacting step; and/or the fraction of SiCl4 that exits the contacting and the purification steps un-reacted can be recycled to the SiCl4 contacting step, e.g. after condensation.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A process (M1) for converting silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) into silicon (Si) metal involves: contacting gaseous SiCl4 with a liquid metal phase containing zinc (Zn) to obtain a Si-bearing metal phase and Zn-chloride; separating the Zn-chloride from the Si-bearing metal phase; and purifying the Si-bearing metal phase by heating to a temperature above the melting point of Si and injecting 12C and/or a gaseous Si chloride compound into the metal phase to obtain vaporizing Zn, eliminating impurities and obtaining Si metal (where the contacting and the separation steps are performed in a single reactor).