Development of the sorption-membrane “green” technology for boron removal from natural and wastewaters

An effect of the nature of electrodialysis and reverse osmosis membranes on the separation and concentration effectiveness of boron-containing solutions generated in the regeneration process of the synthetic boron-selective sorbents of N-methylglucamine type has been determined. The optimum conditions of membrane treatment and utilization of the above regeneration solutions have been established. The technological scheme providing a high purification degree of water from boron and complex processing of generated regenerating solutions with isolating valuable marketable product (calcium borate) and obtaining concentrate of the regenerating acid (that can be reused in the purification process) has been advanced. This provides a means to avert contamination of the environment by toxic boron compounds and regenerating acid as well as to reduce consumption of that acid by 40%.