Mechanisms of boron removal with electrocoagulation

This study aims to explore the mechanisms of boron removal by electrocoagulation (EC). The results demonstrate that adsorption and precipitation of boron by Al flocs are dominant mechanisms in boron removal using EC. The Al flocs that result from the EC process are found to be mainly composed of polymeric Al-13 polymers (43%) and to have a long-lasting positive charge. These characteristics of the flocs contribute to the high levels of boron removal observed using EC. The maximum boron adsorption of the Al flocs is 200 mg g(-1) and the solubility product constant (K-sp), which represents the boron precipitate Al(OH)(2)BO2.nH(2)O, is 2.6 x 10(-40) (at 20 degrees C).