Recovering of boron from emet boric acid factory's wastes

Boron is one of the most important and valuable industrial raw material of Turkey. With the quantity, quality and kind of boron mineral reserves and cheap production cost and advantage of B2O3 contents, Turkey has the first place in the world. In spite of this, during beneficiation processes like crushing, washing, classification and triage used for boron concentrate in Turkey, considerable amounts of tailings are accumulated. Evaluation of this tailing is important for both maximum usage of reserves, stockpiling and for the environment aspects. Colemanite ore produced in Espey and Hisarcık Concentrator Plants depending on Emet Boron Works of Eti Mine Works General Management is used in Boric acid production in Emet Boric Acid Factory in the same plant. But, during production of concentrate colemanite, considerable amounts of water is to use, in this result, tailings with water are accumulated outside and these tailings are stored in only waste ponds. In this study, it was aimed to recover of Boron from Emet Boric Acid Factory?s solid wastes. For this aim, it was studied on solid colemanite samples collected from Emet-Hisarcık Old Waste Pond. For recovering of boron after determination of the Emet Hisarcık Old Waste Pond?s solid wastes, calcination was applied on them. Effect of time, temperature and sifting on calcination was investigated in experiment. According to the experimental test result, it was determined that time, temperature and sifting with different screens affect the calcination. Calcination was performed in laboratory type furnaces between 350-500oC and 15-60 minutes and calcined colemanite was produced. And then calcined colemanite was separated from the clay by sifting with 0,25 mm and 0,50 mm screens. As a result, it was aimed to produce calcined colemanite from Emet- Hisarcık Old Waste Pond?s solid colemanite wastes. As the result of the laboratory scaled experiments, by calcining at 450oC in 25 minutes, and by sifting with 0,50 mm screen, calcined product with a grade of 30,52% B2O3 and with 92,96% efficiency is obtained. Key Words: Tailing Pond, Recovering of Boron, Calcination, Colemanite