Boron removal and measurement in aqueous solutions
Technology title
Boron removal and measurement in aqueous solutions
Technology overview
The proposed boron absorbent technology provides an efficient solution for removing boron from various water sources, including seawater and wastewater. It effectively reduces boron levels to meet stringent standards, such as the drinking water limit of less than 0.5 mg/L. The technology also supports sustainability goals by consuming fewer chemicals and offering excellent recovery stability. Additionally, the proposed absorbent is flexible, customisable, and compatible with a wide range of water treatment applications.
Technology specifications
- High efficiency: Effectively reduces boron concentrations in various water sources, including seawater and wastewater, meeting stringent standards (e.g., <0.5 mg/L for drinking water).
- Sustainability: Consumes trace chemicals during the process and offers robust regeneration stability.
- Flexible & customisable: Sponge-like composite, elastic and flexible, allowing easy scalability for large-scale applications.
- Cost-effective: The technology lowers operational costs due to its high performance and reduced chemical usage.
Sector
Sustainability and Environment.
Market opportunity
Boron is an essential micronutrient required for the growth and development of plants, animals, and humans, while also playing a critical role in industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and semiconductors. However, although beneficial in trace amounts, excessive boron levels can be toxic. High concentrations in drinking water pose significant health risks, particularly to reproductive and developmental systems, while boron contamination in industrial water supplies can reduce process efficiency and compromise product quality.
Current methods for boron removal, such as reverse osmosis and ion exchange, face considerable limitations. Reverse osmosis struggles to remove boron effectively, especially in seawater desalination, often requiring multiple stages and high energy consumption to achieve acceptable levels. Ion exchange resins have low loading capacities and require large amounts of harsh chemicals for regeneration.
Applications
The technology has broad potential applications across multiple sectors. It is particularly valuable in seawater desalination, where boron concentrations must be reduced to meet drinking water standards, and in drinking water systems to ensure compliance with strict regulatory requirements. In industrial wastewater treatment, it can remove boron from effluents, helping industries meet environmental regulations. Additionally, it is suitable for the semiconductor industry, where even trace amounts of boron in water can affect production quality.
Customer benefits
- Superior boron removal efficiency: Achieves boron concentrations below 0.5 mg/L, meeting stringent drinking water standards, which is a challenge for existing methods like reverse osmosis and ion exchange.
- Cost-effectiveness: The high-performance absorbent minimises chemical input during regeneration, contributing to both cost reduction and sustainability.
- Robust recovery and stability: Exhibits strong regeneration stability over >15 cycles, maintaining its high performance.
Technology readiness level
TRL 4
Ideal collaboration partner
We are seeking partnerships to integrate this solution into existing water treatment systems or to collaborate on industrial-scale demonstration projects, aiming to address boron contamination across multiple sectors.
Collaboration mode
We are happy to provide R&D collaboration, licensing and IP acquisition as required by the potential customers.