A method for producing and refining a metal in an electrolytic method characterized in that: providing to a first electrolytic cell an upper molten electrolyte layer comprising a first oxide-based electrolyte containing silicon oxide, wherein the first electrolyte is in a molten state and has a melting point below the operating temperature of the process, an anode positioned in the upper molten electrolytic layer, and a lower molten alloy layer comprising an alloy of silicon and at least one metal more noble than silicon, said alloy constituting a cathode in the first electrolytic cell, said first electrolyte having a density less than the density of the alloy; adding a raw material to said upper molten electrolyte layer, the raw material comprising a metal oxide of the silicon; passing a direct current through the anode to the cathode for reducing the metal oxide to produce an alloy having a higher concentration of the silicon; transferring the alloy of the lower molten alloy layer of the first electrolytic cell to a second electrolytic cell so as to provide a lower molten alloy layer comprising the alloy to the second electrolytic cell, said alloy constituting an anode in the second electrolytic cell; providing to the second electrolytic cell an upper molten metal layer of silicon, said upper molten metal layer constituting a cathode, and an intermediate molten electrolyte layer comprising a second oxide-based electrolyte containing an oxide of silicon, where the second electrolyte is in a molten state and has a melting point below the operating temperature of the process, said second electrolyte having a density between the density of the upper molten silicon layer and lower molten alloy layer; and passing a direct electric current through the anode to the cathode of the second electrolytic cell whereby silicon moves from anode alloy to the upper molten silicon layer. providing to a first electrolytic cell an upper molten electrolyte layer comprising a first oxide-based electrolyte containing silicon oxide, wherein the first electrolyte is in a molten state and has a melting point below the operating temperature of the process, an anode positioned in the upper molten electrolytic layer, and a lower molten alloy layer comprising an alloy of silicon and at least one metal more noble than silicon, said alloy constituting a cathode in the first electrolytic cell, said first electrolyte having a density less than the density of the alloy; adding a raw material to said upper molten electrolyte layer, the raw material comprising a metal oxide of the silicon; passing a direct current through the anode to the cathode for reducing the metal oxide to produce an alloy having a higher concentration of the silicon; transferring the alloy of the lower molten alloy layer of the first electrolytic cell to a second electrolytic cell so as to provide a lower molten alloy layer comprising the alloy to the second electrolytic cell, said alloy constituting an anode in the second electrolytic cell; providing to the second electrolytic cell an upper molten metal layer of silicon, said upper molten metal layer constituting a cathode, and an intermediate molten electrolyte layer comprising a second oxide-based electrolyte containing an oxide of silicon, where the second electrolyte is in a molten state and has a melting point below the operating temperature of the process, said second electrolyte having a density between the density of the upper molten silicon layer and lower molten alloy layer; and passing a direct electric current through the anode to the cathode of the second electrolytic cell whereby silicon moves from anode alloy to the upper molten silicon layer.