Dissolution of Ulexite in Hydrochloric Acid Solutions

Abstract

Ulexite is an important boron mineral used for the production of boron compounds. Purpose of the study has been to investigate the dissolution of ulexite in hydrochloric acid solutions in a batch reactor and to present an alternative process to produce boric acid. Reaction temperature, particle size, solid/liquid ratio, acid concentration and stirring speed have been selected as parameters on the dissolution rate of ulexite. The parameters used in experiments are; acid concentration 0.75^*,1,1.25,1.5,2M, reaction temperature 30^*,40,50,60,70^oC, particle size -14+18^*,-18+30,-30+40,-40+50,-50+60 mesh, solid/liquid ratio 5/100,7.5/100,10/100^* g/mL, stirring speed 500^*,650,800 rpm. It has been found that the dissolution rate has increased the reaction temperature and the stirring speed. However, increasing the particle size, acid concentration and solid/liquid ratio have decreased the rate of dissolution.

Keywords

• Ulexite,Hydrochloric acid

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