Evaluation of magnesium wastes for the synthesis of magnesium borate hydrates by microwave energy

Abstract

Metal wastes should be stored carefully due their human and environment health effects. Evaluation of metal wastes can be an alternative way instead of storage. In this study, it is aimed to reuse the magnesium wastes by the synthesis of magnesium borate minerals using microwave energy. Dry raw materials were slurred with 1 ml of water to faciliate reaction of the mixture. Mixture of waste of magnesium and boric acid, at mole ratio of 1:4, reacted at 360W. Effect of reaction time to product was studied.After synthesis stage, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) were applied to final products. According to XRD patterns,three types of magnesium hydrate borate minerals were synthesized. Synthesized minerals were Admontite (PDF No: 00-034-1438, MgO(B₂O₃)₃.7(H₂O)), Inderite (PDF No: 00-036-0423) and Kurnacovite (PDF No: 01-072-1890, Mg₂B₆O₁₁.15H₂O). Characteristic vibration peak values are determined by FT-IRanalysis. It is seen that structure of synthesized magnesium borate mineral changes with the reaction time.