Optimization of Boric Acid Extraction From Colemanite With An Environmentally Friendly Process By Using The Taguchi Method

Abstract

Boric acid, one of the boron products, is obtained from colemanite sulfuric acid process in some countries. In this process, sulfur dioxide was used instead of sulfuric acid to obtain H3BO3 . The purpose of this research is to produce boric acid from a cheaper and more environmentally friendly process. In this research where H3BO3 was obtained, optimization of the dissolution of the original colemanite containing clay in SO2-saturated water was investigated using the Taguchi Method. In experiments, solid-liquid ratio, mixing speed, reaction temperature, reaction time and particle size were selected as parameters. Optimization studies were carried out in two stages. According to the results obtained in the first stage, the best value for the mixing speed was found to be 300 rpm and the mixing speed is found to have little effect. Therefore, the mixing speed was kept constant in the second stage. According to the second design, the optimum conditions were found at 50 degrees C for reaction temperature, -212+150 mu m for particle size, 0.25 g/mL for solid liquid ratio, and the B2O3 passing through the solution under these conditions was 98.5%.