A New approach to borax pentahydrate production

After the USA, Turkey is the largest producer of borates, and is the world's principal source of natural borate minerals. Etibank dominates the mining and processing of boron minerals and boron compounds in Turkey. Etibank' s mining operations are centered upon four borate deposits, Bigadiç, Emet, Kestelek and Kırka. In this work, laboratory and pilot plant tests have been carried out on the run of mine tincal ore (Na2B407. 10 H2O) for direct production of borax pentahydrate (Na2B407. 5 H2O) by a combination of a leaching unit and a decanter centrifuge and these are compared to the process presently employed at Etibank' s borax production plant in Kırka, Eskişehir, Turkey.