Recovery of Boric Acid From Colemanite Waste by Sulfuric Acid Leaching and Crystallization

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Title

Recovery of Boric Acid From Colemanite Waste by Sulfuric Acid Leaching and Crystallization

Author

Bayca, Salih Ugur

Abstract

The Balikesir -Bigadic mine is worked by open pit operations to produce colemanite ore. Colemanite ores are processed by mineral processing techniques to prepare colemanite concentrates in the Bigadic plant. Colemanite process waste from this concentrator is pumped to the four tailing dams of the plant. Each passing day increases the amount of this waste stored since it is not using in the industry. In this study, recovery of boric acid from colemanite waste by sulfuric acid leaching and crystallization process was investigated. Colemanite waste was leached using sulfuric acid solutions. The experiments of leaching parameters were solid/liquid ratio, stirring speed, acid concentration, and reaction temperature. The most significant parameters were found in the leaching. The optimum leaching conditions were determined by these parameters. The filtered leach solutions were studied by using crystallization to obtain high purity boric acid. For this purpose, the influence of crystallization time was affected on purity of boric acid. The effects of reaction time on the particle size of gypsum were investigated. The results showed that high purity boric acid crystals were obtained using colemanite waste.

Keywords

Conference or Workshop Item
PeerReviewed

Date

2010-06

Extent

630

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