Non-equilibrium sorption modeling for boron removal from geothermal water using sorption–microfiltration hybrid method

In this study, the boron removal performance of a hybrid system composed of ground ion exchange resin particles coupled with a microfiltration separation unit was investigated. A non-equilibrium sorption modeling approach was introduced so as to understand the contributions of mass transfer resistances on the effluent stream concentration profiles, as well as on the resin loading scheme of this sorption–microfiltration hybrid system. This modeling approach allowed us to suggest new system operations and/or scale-up processes of sorption–microfiltration hybrid systems. In this study, the highly porous crosslinked boron selective chelating resins Diaion CRB02 and Dowex XUS 43594.00 containing N-methyl-glucamine group were used. Geothermal water that has high levels of boron was fed into the stirred cell element of the microfiltration system. Kinetic behaviour of boron selective resins for boron removal from geothermal water by the microfiltration system was evaluated to investigate the effects of resin particle size, resin concentration, and permeate flow rate.