Boron removal by adsorption onto activated alumina and by reverse osmosis

The presence of boron compounds in waters increases in a continuous and parallel way to industrial development. Therefore, their harmful effects on living organisms also increase, especially on plants, since this element manifests an important micronutrient-toxic boron duality. The aim of this study is to investigate the boron removal by the adsorption process onto activated alumina and by membrane processes. Boron removal from aqueous solutions was investigated using activated alumina. Experiments were conducted to delineate the effect of stirring time, pH, adsorbent dose and boron concentration. Effects of foreign ions such as Sulfate, fluoride, nitrate, hydrogenocarbonate and silica on boron removal by adsorption onto activated alumina were studied. The content of boron in water can be also reduced by means of various membrane processes. The reverse osmosis tests were carried out with the use of Osmonics spiral module equipped with AG 2514 TF membrane. Using conventional RO, significant removal of boron has been observed only in its ionic form. Experiments were conducted to present membrane retention as a function of pH and to delineate membrane performance.