Production of boric acid from microwave-dehydrated ulexite waste by oxalic acid solution leaching

Abstract

An investigation was made of the production of boric acid from microwave-dehydrated ulexite waste by leaching with oxalic acid solution. An ulexite waste sample was dehydrated in a domestic microwave oven, and then dissolved in oxalic solution at temperatures of between 25 and 70°C. The experimental data from this dissolution process were analyzed using homogeneous and heterogeneous kinetic models, and the leaching kinetics of the microwave-dehydrated ulexite waste were defined. The activation energy of the oxalic acid solution of the microwave-dehydrated ulexite waste was also calculated.