Effect of acid-base solutions used in acid-base compartments for simultaneous recovery of lithium and boron from aqueous solution using bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED)

While higher initial acid and base concentrations showed higher boron and lithium separation efficiencies, relatively lower concentrations of acid and base solutions employed in acid and base compartments improved the recoveries of boron and lithium. Acid and base solutions generating a moderate conductive medium in acid and base compartments improved separations along with recoveries of boron and lithium from solution. When the solutions of 0.1 M HCl and 0.1 M NaOH were used in acid and base compartments, recoveries of boron and lithium were 27% and 33%, respectively. On the other hand, the recoveries of boron and lithium were 62% and 56%, respectively when 0.1 M H3BO3 and 0.1 M LiOH solutions were employed in acid and base compartments.