<p>This paper investigates the degradation behavior of various crucible materials, including graphite, calcia, boron nitride, magnesia, and alumina, when exposed to molten metallic beryllium (Be). The study identifies magnesia crucibles as promising candidates for use in Be melting and purification processes. An in-depth analysis of the degradation kinetics of magnesia crucibles exposed to molten Be reveals that the degradation zone can be divided into a reaction zone and a BeO product layer. By examining the variation in their thicknesses, the degradation mechanisms and the impact of impurities on the degradation process were explored. The results indicate that enhancing the density and purity of the MgO crucible substrate can mitigate Be diffusion and uneven degradation. This improvement promotes the two-dimensional growth of the BeO layer, forming a dense, layered structure that effectively inhibits the progression of degradation. Vacuum evaporation purification experiments using high-purity magnesia crucibles demonstrated their efficacy in increasing the purity of Be from 98.709% to 99.721%. Additionally, the migration behavior of impurity elements was examined, confirming the feasibility of employing magnesia crucibles for Be melting and purification. The findings suggest that implementing vacuum distillation could achieve further purification of Be.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>