314
Keywords Boron · Removal · Adsorption · Adsorbent · Clay · Layered double
hydroxide · Metal oxides · Adsorption capacity · Wastewater treatment ·
Pollutant removal
12.1 Introduction
The appearance of boron in salt form, not as a free element in nature, resembles a
white rock. Boron is a mineral found naturally in soil, water, air, and rocks. Boron
mineral concentration in the Earth’s crust is around 10 mg L
−1
(Bakirdere et al.
2010). Boron is an important element due to its harness, its resistance to high temperatures, and its ability to produce high amounts of energy when used as a fuel.
Boron and its compounds have a wide range of applications in industry. Boron is
used for strengthening and insulation purposes in construction and cement industries; in detergent industries due to its bleaching and protective properties against
bacteria; in cosmetics sectors due to its softness, stickiness, and durability properties; in agricultural sectors for increasing the yield purposes; and in various industrial areas such as ceramic sectors in terms of decreasing the cooking temperature of
ceramics.
Boron compounds are found in surface water and groundwater. The concentration of boron in groundwater varies between 0.3 and 100 mg L
−1
. In surface waters,
it is in the range of 0.5–9.6 mg L
−1
in seawater and 0.01–1.5 mg L
−1
in freshwater
(Ünlü et al. 2011). It has been defined as 0.3 mg L
−1
for sensitive plants in irrigation
waters, 1–2 mg L
−1
for medium sensitive plants, and 2–4 mg L
−1
for resistant plants.
Boron is also a micronutrient for humans and animals, and the acceptable limit of
use is 0.3 mg Boron kg
−1
(Nable et al. 1997).
In order to eliminate the environmental effects of high boron concentration in
water, it should be removed using appropriate methods. For this purpose, boron
removal was tried with different methods. This review includes boron removal using
adsorption method. Several adsorbents can be used for boron removal, including
natural sources, metal oxides, and layered double hydroxides. A literature research
was done to identify the kinds of adsorbent used in the studies and adsorption
capacities.
12.2 Chemical Properties of Boron
Boron is a third group element of the periodic system, which has semiconductor
properties. Boron has exists in the nature the mixture of two isotopes of mass number 10 (19.8%) and 11 (80.2%) (Power and Woods 1997). Boron can be found in
P. Demircivi
Keywords Boron · Removal · Adsorption · Adsorbent · Clay · Layered double
hydroxide · Metal oxides · Adsorption capacity · Wastewater treatment ·
Pollutant removal
12.1 Introduction
The appearance of boron in salt form, not as a free element in nature, resembles a
white rock. Boron is a mineral found naturally in soil, water, air, and rocks. Boron
mineral concentration in the Earth’s crust is around 10 mg L
−1
(Bakirdere et al.
2010). Boron is an important element due to its harness, its resistance to high temperatures, and its ability to produce high amounts of energy when used as a fuel.
Boron and its compounds have a wide range of applications in industry. Boron is
used for strengthening and insulation purposes in construction and cement industries; in detergent industries due to its bleaching and protective properties against
bacteria; in cosmetics sectors due to its softness, stickiness, and durability properties; in agricultural sectors for increasing the yield purposes; and in various industrial areas such as ceramic sectors in terms of decreasing the cooking temperature of
ceramics.
Boron compounds are found in surface water and groundwater. The concentration of boron in groundwater varies between 0.3 and 100 mg L
−1
. In surface waters,
it is in the range of 0.5–9.6 mg L
−1
in seawater and 0.01–1.5 mg L
−1
in freshwater
(Ünlü et al. 2011). It has been defined as 0.3 mg L
−1
for sensitive plants in irrigation
waters, 1–2 mg L
−1
for medium sensitive plants, and 2–4 mg L
−1
for resistant plants.
Boron is also a micronutrient for humans and animals, and the acceptable limit of
use is 0.3 mg Boron kg
−1
(Nable et al. 1997).
In order to eliminate the environmental effects of high boron concentration in
water, it should be removed using appropriate methods. For this purpose, boron
removal was tried with different methods. This review includes boron removal using
adsorption method. Several adsorbents can be used for boron removal, including
natural sources, metal oxides, and layered double hydroxides. A literature research
was done to identify the kinds of adsorbent used in the studies and adsorption
capacities.
12.2 Chemical Properties of Boron
Boron is a third group element of the periodic system, which has semiconductor
properties. Boron has exists in the nature the mixture of two isotopes of mass number 10 (19.8%) and 11 (80.2%) (Power and Woods 1997). Boron can be found in
P. Demircivi