Boron removal by means of precipitation process with magnesium hydroxide

The presence of boron compounds in waters increases in a continuous and parellel way to industrial development. Therefore, their harmful effects an living organisms also increases, especially on plants, since this element manifests an important micronutrient-toxic boron duality. Boron is widely distributed in the environment, mainly in the form of boric asid or borate salts. Generally speaking, this element is an important micronutrient for living organisms, but the range between deficiency and excess is narrow. For this reason, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendsin ist Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality, a maximum boron concentration of 0.3 mgL^-1. The same norms are recommended when seawater is used as a source of water. The aim of this study to investigate the influence of different operation variables within the precipitation process of boron with magnesium hydroxide when boron stock solution is being treated. Operation variables are precipitant amount, stirring speed, contact duration, pH, temperature.