Usage of acetic acid for boric acid production from boron wastes.

Turkey's boric acid production has the highest production share among refined boron products. This production is takes place at the Bandırma (Balıkesir) and Emet (Kütahya) Boric Acid Plants of ETI Maden Operations. Concentrated ore (by physical processes) and high-grade wastes accumulated in waste ponds/dams are obtained from boron production plants. In this study, slime size (d80=52.70µm) wastes belonging to the Bigadiç field with 9-12% B2O3 (ulexite-colemanite) content have been evaluated. Due to the small size of feeding without the need for grinding, the sample was subjected to leaching of acetic acid at 60°C for 1 hour, at a mixing speed of 1500 rpm, at 7% solids. In addition to the recovery of 90% H3BO3 (at 4% acid concentration) after the leaching process, different compounds such as Na2O, and CaO were also obtained. Similar peaks were found in the FT-IR analyzes of boric acid and the product obtained. This study is an important output in terms of evaluating the % B2O3 content in the wastes of both this plant and other boron plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]