Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comprehensive Utilization of Boron-Concentrate by Hydrometallurgy

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A new eco-friendly process to comprehensively utilize boron-concentrate is proposed in this paper. In this process, Iron-concentrate, silicon dioxide, magnesium oxide, and boric acid could be produced from boron-concentrate. The highlight of this process was minimal waste discharge during the whole process. Iron removal was a key step to ensure the quality of boric acid and magnesium oxide. The introduced goethite precipitation method could remove iron to a very low level. With the addition of 3 cm3 H2O2 (5 vol. %) as an oxidizing agent, more than 99% of iron was removed from the leaching liquor. After the removal of iron, the resulting liquor was used to prepare magnesium precipitate. And the optimal preparation conditions were: the temperature of 30 °C and precipitation time of 60 min, ammonium- magnesium ratio of 1.5, the magnesium ion concentration of 34.8 g·L−1. Under those conditions, the magnesium precipitation efficiency was up to 98.5%. Magnesium oxide was obtained by roasting magnesium precipitate at 550 °C for 2 h. Then the mixed crystals of ammonium sulfate and boric acid were obtained by evaporating the liquor after iron removing and magnesium precipitating. Boric acid was separated from ammonium sulfate by dissolving the mixed crystals in ethanol solution.

Graphical Abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aghili S, Aghili S, Panjepour M, Panjepour M, Meratian M, Meratian M (2018) Kinetic analysis of formation of boron trioxide from thermal decomposition of boric acid under non-isothermal conditions. J Therm Anal Calorim 131(3):2443–2455

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Cao J, Zhao B, Liu S, Zhang M, Lv B (1996) Processing of ascharite-magnetite syngenetic mineral by sulfuric acid(II) phase diagrams of H3bo3-Mgso4-Mgcl2-H2o system at 25°C and 100°C and their application. J Chem Ind Eng (China) 47(4):454–460

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Chang Y, Zhai X, Li B, Yan Fu (2010) Removal of iron from acidic leach liquor of lateritic nickel ore by goethite precipitate. Hydrometallurgy 101(1):84–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Jiayong C, Jiayong SY, Shuqiu HL, Huizhou XM (1992) New mixed solvent systems for the extraction and separation of ferric iron in sulphate solutions. Hydrometallurgy 30(1–3):401–416

    Google Scholar 

  5. Davey PT, Scott TR (1976) Removal of iron from leach liquors by the "Goethite" process. Hydrometallurgy 2(1):25–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Duan H, Lv X, Ning Z, Zhai Y (2011) Boron extraction from boron-concentrate ore by ammonium sulfate roasting method. J Northeastern Univ (Natural Science) 32(12):1724–1728

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Fu X-J, Chu M-S, Gao L-H, Liu Z-G (2018) Stepwise recovery of magnesium from low-grade ludwigite ore based on innovative and clean technological route. Trans Nonferrous Metal Soc China 28(11):2383–2394

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Gao P, Li G, Xiaotian Gu, Han Y (2020) Reduction kinetics and microscopic properties transformation of boron-bearing iron concentrate–carbon-mixed pellets. Miner Process Extr Metall Rev 41(3):162–170

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hu, Q. The Production and Application of Magnesium Compounds, Chemical Industry Publication, 2004. P 11–31.

  10. Kaksonen AH, Morris C, Hilario F, Rea SM, Li J, Usher KM, Wylie J, Ginige MP, Cheng KY, du Plessis C (2014) Iron oxidation and jarosite precipitation in a two-stage airlift bioreactor. Hydrometallurgy 150:227–235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Leussing DL, Kolthoff IM (1953) The solubility product of ferrous hydroxide and the ionization of the aquo-ferrous ion. J Am Chem Soc 75(10):2476–2479

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Li G, Liang B, Rao M, Zhang Y, Jiang T (2014) An innovative process for extracting boron and simultaneous recovering metallic iron from ludwigite ore. Miner Eng 56:57–60

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Liang B, Li G, Rao M, Peng Z, Zhang Y, Jiang T (2017) Water leaching of boron from soda-ash-activated ludwigite ore. Hydrometallurgy 167:101–106

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Liu F, Zhou J, Jin T, Zhang S, Liu L (2016) Effect of calcium oxide on the efficiency of ferrous ion oxidation and total iron precipitation during ferrous ion oxidation in simulated acid mine drainage treatment with inoculation of acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Water Sci Technol 73(6):1442–1453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Liu S, Cui C, Zhang X (1998) Pyrometallurgical separation of boron from iron in ludwigite ore. ISIJ Int 38(10):1077–1079

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Sheng Y, Kaley B, Bibby K, Grettenberger C, Macalady JL, Wang G, Burgos WD (2017) Bioreactors for low-Ph iron(Ii) oxidation remove considerable amounts of total iron. RSC Advances 7(57):35962–35972

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Sutradhar N, Sinhamahapatra A, Roy B, Bajaj HC, Mukhopadhyay I, Panda AB (2011) Preparation of Mgo nano-rods with strong catalytic activity Via hydrated basic magnesium carbonates. Mater Res Bull 46(11):2163–2167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Wang G, Wang J, Ding Y, Ma S, Xue Q (2012) New separation method of boron and iron from ludwigite based on carbon bearing pellet reduction and melting technology. ISIJ Int 52(1):45–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Wang Y, Li Z, Demopoulos GP (2008) Controlled precipitation of nesquehonite (Mgco3·3h2o) by the reaction of Mgcl2 with (Nh4)2co3. J Cryst Growth 310(6):1220–1227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Wang Z, Chu M, Li Z, Tang J, Zhao Q, Xue X (2011) Fundamental study on application of gas-based shaft furnace direct reduction process to high efficiency and clean utilization of paigeite. Adv Mater Res 233–235:753–758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Wu Y, Pan X-L, Han Y-J, Hai-yan Yu (2019) Dissolution kinetics and removal mechanism of kaolinite in diasporic bauxite in alkali solution at atmospheric pressure. Trans Nonferrous Meta Soc China 29(12):2627–2637

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Wu Y, Pan X, Li Q, Haiyan Yu (2020) Crystallization and phase transition of tobermorite synthesized by hydrothermal reaction from dicalcium silicate. Int J Appl Ceram Technol 17(3):1213–1223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Fu XJ, Zhao JQ, Chen SY, Liu ZG, Guo TL, Chu MS (2015) Comprehensive utilization of ludwigite ore based on metallizing reduction and magnetic separation. J Iron Steel Res Int 22(8):672–680

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Xiong F-Q, Gui W-H, Yang C-H (2012) Integrated prediction model of iron concentration in goethite method to remove iron process. Kongzhi yu Juece/Control and Decision 27(3):329–342

    Google Scholar 

  25. Yang J, Zhang X-H, Tian Z-H, Xiao-Yun Xu, Liu J (2014) Determination of boron in silica refractory by acid-base titration. Yejin Fenxi/Metallurgical Analysis 34(4):78–80

    Google Scholar 

  26. Ye Y, Lv B (1996) Processing of ascharite-magnetite syngenetic mineral by sulfuric acid(I)—digestion retardation of magnetite and it’s mechanism. J Chem Ind Eng China 47(4):447–453

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Zhang C, Fang Li, Liao H, Cheng W, Cheng F (2018) Crystallization of Mgco3·3h2o in Mg(Oh)2-Co2-H2o system. Inorg Chem Ind 50(6):36–41

    Google Scholar 

  28. Zhang X, Li GH, You JX, Wang J, Luo J, Duan JY, Zhang T, Peng ZW, Rao MJ, Jiang T (2019) Extraction of boron from ludwigite ore: mechanism of soda-ash roasting of lizardite and szaibelyite. Minerals 9(9):533

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Zhang X, Lang J, Cui C, Liu S (1995) Comprehensive utilization of low grade ludwigite ore during blast furnace smelting. Kang T’ieh/Iron and Steel (Peking) 30(12):9–11

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Zhu Z, You J, Zhang X, Li G, Wang J, Luo J, Rao M, Peng Z, Jiang T (2020) Recycling excessive alkali from reductive soda ash roasted ludwigite ore: toward a zero-waste approach. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 8(13):5317–5327

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate financial support by the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (No. cstc2018jcyjAX0792.s) and the Fundamental Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2020CDJ-LHSS-010)

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Metallurgy and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China

    Huamei Duan, Chengrui Wang, Yanhong Fang, Guangfen Liang, Dengfu Chen & Mujun Long

  2. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vanadium Titanium Metallurgy and New Materials, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China

    Huamei Duan, Chengrui Wang, Yanhong Fang, Guangfen Liang, Dengfu Chen & Mujun Long

  3. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Extraordinary Bond Engineering and Advanced Materials Technology, Yangtze Normal University, Chongqing, 408100, China

    Yandong Li

Authors
  1. Huamei Duan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chengrui Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yanhong Fang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Guangfen Liang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yandong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Dengfu Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Mujun Long
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Huamei Duan.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

The contributing editor for this article was Hiromichi Takebe.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Duan, H., Wang, C., Fang, Y. et al. Comprehensive Utilization of Boron-Concentrate by Hydrometallurgy. J. Sustain. Metall. 7, 244–255 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-020-00328-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-020-00328-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation