Removal of boron from oilfield wastewater via adsorption with synthetic layered double hydroxides

Hydrotalcite is a layered double hydroxide (LDH) consisting of brucite-like sheets of metal ions (Mg-Al). In this work, hydrotalcites were synthesized, and boron removal from oilfield wastewater was evaluated. LDHs were synthesized using the co-precipitation method. The calcined products (CLDHs) were obtained by heating at 500°C and characterized using X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, thermogravimetric analysis and the specific surface area (BET). The affinity of LDHs for borate ions was evaluated for calcined and uncalcined LDHs as a function of contact time, initial pH of the oilfield wastewater (pH ∼ 9) and the LDH surface area. The tests were conducted at room temperature (approximately 25ºC). The results indicated that 10 min were needed to reach a state of equilibrium during boron removal for calcined LDHs due to the high surface area (202.3 m(2) g(-1)) regardless of the initial pH of the oilfield wastewater, which resulted from the high buffering capacity of the LDHs. The adsorption capacity increased as the adsorbents levels increased for the range studied. After treatment of the oilfield wastewater containing 30 mg L(-1) of boron with Mg-Al-CO3-LDHs, the final concentration of boron was within the discharge limit set by current Brazilian environmental legislation, which is 5 mg L(-1). Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were tested, and the latter was found to fit the experimental data better. Isotherms for boron adsorption by CLDHs were well described using the Langmuir and Freundlich equations.