Determination of potassium pentaborate octahydrate production conditions

Abstract

Inorganic boron compounds are used in construction, agriculture, cosmetics, textile, ceramic, nuclear energy, military industry, electronics and automotive industry. In this study potassium borate (xK 2 O.yB 2 O 3 .zH 2 O) which is one of these inorganic borates was produced by using boric acid and potassium hydroxide in aqueous medium. After specifying theoretical reaction conditions required for chemical reaction, different B 2 O 3 / K 2 O mixing ratios have been tried to obtain several products having different purities. In addition to some chemical analyzes, XRD and TG-DTA analyzes were also performed on the obtained products, after the characterization process, it was compared with the original product. Borax decahydrate, borax pentahydrate, potassium chloride, carbonate and hydroxide is used in conventional production technique of potassium pentaborate. In this study it is obtained by using KOH and low sulfate boric acid which is a commercial product of Eti Mine Works General Management in laboratory environment.