Where theworld gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989
-----
Removing boron from wastewater
Q. I am interested in removing boron and boron compounds from a wastewater stream.
If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate hearing it, or if they can point me in the right direction it will also help.
Thanks.
A. We are currently researching boron treatment. There appears to be some limited evidence that boron reduction (10 to 30% depending on the concentration - >10 mg/L and process) can be achieved in some conventional treatment plants. No reduction data for boric acid. Research is for a landfill with 10 to 15 mg/L boron levels. Treatment objective is less than 5 mg/L. At levels greater than 50% reduction, literature suggests a micro-filtration process.
John Stidwill- Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
1996
Q. I am also looking for wastewater treatment technologies for the removal of boron ... any current literature? Any help greatly appreciated.
James P [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Hot springs, Arizona
2000
Q. We have also been on a 4 month long search for cost effective boron removal from wastewater.
The raw wastewater contains varying amounts from 100-1100 mg/l of B (as borate we believe). Conventional treatment technologies (metal hydroxide precipitation) has brought the levels down consistently to 100 mg/l from 1100 and to 30 mg/l from 100.
Our goal is to reach levels below 4 mg/l consistently. The only technology which appears to work (thus far) is Ion Exchange. This technology is extremely expensive, and we have been researching other options.
The most recent attempt (reverse osmosis) has brought our levels down to 13 mg/l.
If you or anyone else has some ideas or success, please let me know.
Thank You.
- Plainville, Connecticut
2000
A. If you're interested in high removal rates of Boron, the way to go is EDI (Electro deionization). Another option is to use two step R.O. which will leave you with 25 % remaining in the feed (75 % removal). Good luck and greetings from the Netherlands
Jorg Korver- the Netherlands
2000
A. We are removing boron from wastewater, using an RO system operating with preconditioned effluent, it is on service since January with consistent results below 10 ppm
Rogèrio Toledo de Almeida- Guarulhos, Sao Paulo, Brazil
2000
"Natural Wastewater Treatment Systems"
on
AbeBooks
or
Amazon
(affil links)
A. We are currently removing Boron from 200 ppm to 6 ppm by using crossflow microfiltration after chemical pretreatment.
Israel Garden- Haifa Israel
2001
A. I do research on removal boron from wastewater. I'm using RO and then use the sample after RO treatment, do the adsorption with activated carbon. The result so great...less than 1 ppm boron.
Suriyati SalehUniversity Technology Malaysia - Johor, Malaysia
2003
A. You might want to try filtration using zeolite medium. Or use bentonite clay chemicals. Results are very good.
Redzuan Razak- Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
2004
A. Boron compounds are reduced under high pH. Depending on the process and objectives, pH precipitation is likely indicated and advisable. There are some ion exchange compounds that can achieve the desired level, again subject to objectives.
For example: a zeolite process with caustic soda
[affil links]
may raise the pH to 9.5 or 10. This may precipitate elemental boron by 60%. Complex boron or bound boron complexes may require a higher pH, and caustic soda may not be a suitable agent. If reductions at 98% level are required, suggest another agent to raise pH to 11, then design neutralization complex to suit (i.e. sulfuric acid or carbonization...subject to cost efficiency process selection).
- Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2005
Q. We are interested in a Boron removal process
Miguel N. [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- U.N.S.J.(Fac. Ing.)-San Juan-Argentina
2000
Treatment of Boronated Waste Water using an RO Membrane
Q. In treatment of boronated waste water by using an RO membrane, what are the most important factors that should be considered? How does the pH factor influence the performance of the treatment (type of membrane that have been used is spiral wound)? pH will influence the concentration of the boron in the water. By theory, the treatment should be done in the pH condition that the boron concentration is minimized. When doing this filtration, what type of ion boron is the easiest to reject (ion boric acid or the complex ion of boron)?
For your information, the concentration of boron is analyzed with the HACH DR/2000 by Carmine method.
Chemical Engineering Pilot Plant (CEPP) - Johor, Malaysia
2001
Q. We have up to 25 mg Boron/l in our wastewater (Raw material content of B2O3). Will a system or method work to remove Boron up to level <1 mg/l(our discharge criteria)
W.K. Tan- K.L. , Malaysia
2001
Q. Whomever works on that subject (treatment of boronated waste waters using membranes), I have some questions. I finished my PhD 3 months ago and I decided to work on BORON subject. Cause as you know, Turkey is one of the biggest boron mineral ores underground. And our old technology factories cause some wastewater problems.
If anyone replies, I'll be appreciative.
- Eskisehir
2003
Q. Sodium Borohydride used to tackle high carbonyl and high iodine value in our factory that is producing a fatty alcohol product. This traces of chemical end up as free Boron in our waste system that is causing us to find a solution for treatment. If possible I want to know also a low cost method of removal of this metal.
Karrin Rawing- Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
2003
Q. I would like to ask from others regarding the treatment of high boron influent from leachate wastewater. The leachate wastewater originated from the hazardous waste landfill. I've done few test on chemical precipitation with zinc sulphate [on
eBay or
Amazon]
and ferrous sulphate ferrous sulphate
[affil links]. Both chemicals give 50-65% removal of boron. The influent boron concentration is around 150-200 ppm. Is there any other experience in removing boron from wastewater using chemical precipitation. ( RO systems are very expensive and not feasible ).
Another question that I have is my treated wastewater especially from the leachate wastewater turns black after storing in the tank for few days ( without any movement ). I believe that the black color is due to the FeS that presence in the water. I tried to aerate the water and add some sodium hypochlorite to accelerate the sulfide oxidation to sulphate. However, it seems that it takes along time to oxidize the FeS. ( adding the hypochlorite oxidizes the sulfide and produced Fe(OH)3 sludge ). My question is is there any way that I can solve the issue and should I aerate and add some oxidizing agent in the equalization tanks prior the treatment with ferric chloride [on
eBay or
Amazon]?
Highly appreciated if anyone can contribute some ideas.
Sr. Process Engineer - Leachate Treatment Plant - Malaysia
2005
A. Muhamed Jaffar
Sr. Process Engineer - Leachate Treatment Plant - Malaysia
For the Fe problem you should use chlorine dioxide to oxidize the sulfides; I would add it into the stream entering your holding tanks
water treatment - Sacramento, California
December 5, 2011
Q. What may be the chemical reaction for removing BORON from existing water sample.
What shall be the Chemical / ingredients to be used.
- Kolkata, India
2005
A. Chemical precipitation is the best way to remove boron. Usually precipitates out at ph above 9+ followed by acid adjustment.
John StidwillOttawa, Ontario, Canada
2007
A. We have used peat for boron removal, in the first stage we compared four kinds of adsorbents Basalt, peat,compost and activated carbon and we found peat is the best. the result of this part of our study will be published in journal of environmental technology "INVESTIGATION OF ORGANIC, INORGANIC AND SYNTHETIC ADSORBENTS FOR THE PRE TREATMENT OF LANDFILL LEACHATE". Then we compared three kind of peat to find which one has the best performance and finally we did field studies. The result of this part of the work will be submitted to publish very soon, too. Also we compared the effect of environmental factors on adsorption of boron from landfill leachate. The result has published "Adsorption of boron from landfill leachate by peat and the effect of environmental factors".
Haleh Shahriari- Ottawa. Ontario, Canada
February 25, 2008
Q. My question is what other options can be used to remove boron from wastewater to 0.3 ppm level.
Alaa AnnaniCivil engineering - Woloonogong, Australia
October 20, 2013
A. Hi Alaa. Abstract questions rarely gain the responders interest, and if I counted right, 8 treatment methods have already been introduced. My experience here is that just asking for a ninth and tenth way, with no feedback, won't gain you a response.
Presumably you have some particular situation and some reason the proposed solutions are not satisfactory? What is the incoming boron concentration, the flow rate, the available retention time for treatment, the chemistry that might interfere with the other proposed methods? Thanks!
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
October 22, 2013
A. Using ion exchange resin you can match 0 ppm of Boron
Albino trussi- milano Italy
April 7, 2014
----
Ed. note: Readers who wish to answer these queries, please do so. Readers who are looking for additional dialogs about Treating Boron in Wastewater, please see threads
1767,
3743,
4809,
6884,
7976,
10347,
10751,
15307,
20838,
33497,
34850,
35051
Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread