TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The method further comprises adding a second carbon source. The method comprises (a) separately adding silicon carbide and silicon oxide and optionally the second carbon source and subsequently mixing the components; (b) adding silicon carbide together with silicon oxide and optionally the second carbon source in a composition; and/or (c) adding silicon oxide together with the second carbon source in a composition and/or (d) adding silicon carbide in a composition with the second carbon source. The silicon is used: for further processing in the production of solar grade silicon or silicon semiconductor; or as solar grade silicon or silicon semiconductor. Preferred Components: The silicon oxide is in the form of silicon dioxide. The silicon carbide is added as reaction initiators and/or reaction catalysts. The silicon carbide is (i) in the form of powder, granules and/or aggregate and/or (ii) in the form of porous glass, extruded material and/or pellets optionally comprising other additives. The silicon carbide and/or silicon oxide and optionally the second carbon source are added as materials to be recycled, to the process. The silicon oxide is present in the form of powder, granules, porous material, foam, pellet and extruded material and/or in the form of a porous glass body, optionally together with other additives, preferably together with the second carbon source and/or silicon carbide. The composition comprises silicon carbide infiltrated with silicon and/or carbon fiber containing silicon carbide. EXAMPLE - AEROSIL OX 50 (RTM: Fumed silica) and carbon (graphite) in a weight ratio of 75:25, were heated by igniting an electric arc as an energy source. The reaction was started slowly by emitting the gaseous compounds of silicon dioxide and carbon and then silicon carbide (1 wt.%) was added to the reaction mixture. The strong increase in the reaction was observed by the occurrence of the luminescence. After the addition of silicon carbide, the reaction was further proceeded with an intense bright orange luminescence (about 1000 degrees C). The solid obtained after the completion of the reaction was identified as silicon because of its dark brown color and by reflection electron microscopy.