The investigation of the production of magnesium borates from sodium borates and the determination of the affecting production parameters

Boron is an important mineral that have more than 500 usage areas including glass, ceramic and nuclear stations. There are more than 230 boron minerals are occurred with different boron trioxide (B2O3) contents. In Turkey 72,2%, in Russia 8,35% and in USA 6,3% of world boron reserves. Despite the biggest partion of reserves, magnesium borate reserves are minimum in Turkey. High heat resistance, corrosion and dust resistance lead magnesium borates to an important industrial and experimental componentceramic industry, detergent industry and components, super-conduction material productions, hydrocarbon catalysts, production of friction reducing additive and oils; are the major usage areas of magnesium borates. Addition to their usage areas it can be used in the sector of radioactive waste reduction due to their boric acid (H3BO3. Also magnesium borates can beused at the production of super-conducting magnesium diboride, non-conducting coating components for metal surfaces, heat sensitive ink components, anti-corrosion additive in paints, washing waters in the contact lenses and fire retarding agents. Magnesium borates can be produced by two methods; hydrothermal and thermal (solid-state). In hydrothermal method magnesium borates can be produced with crystal water, in a water environment with the aid of heat. Also in this method low temperature borate crystals can be produced. In the thermal method with the aid of high temperature furnace magnesium and boron sources are reacted in air atmosphere and form dehydrated magnesium borates. In this study the hydrothermal synthesis of magnesium borates are studied with using magnesium chlorede hexahyrate (MgCl2.6H2O), tincalconite (Na2B4O7.5H2O), borax (Na2B4O7.10H2O), boric acid (H3BO3) ve boron trioxide (B2O3) with the stirring methods of both magnestic and ultrasonic. From the experimental studies, ?01?076?540? XRD pdf coded Admontite [MgO(B2O3)3.7(H2O)] and ?01?070?1902? XRD pdf coded Mcallisterite Mg2(B6O7(OH)6)2.9(H2O)] are produced with magnestic stirred hydrothermal method. Pure ?01?076?540? XRD pdf coded Admontite [MgO(B2O3)3.7(H2O)] is produced with ultrasonic stirred hydrothermal method. Synthesized magnesium borate minerals, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Raman spectrums showed the characteristic peaks of magnesium borates at both infra red and visual regions. The B2O3 contents are found in mutual agreement with the literature values. From the Scannind Electron Microscopy (SEM), the micron and nano particle sized mineral productions are obtained. Keywords: Admontite, mkallisterite, hydrothermal method, magnesium borates, magnetic stirring, ultrasonic stirring, XRD, FT-IR, Raman, SEM.