New treatment method for boron in aqueous solutions using Mg–Al layered double hydroxide: Kinetics and equilibrium studies

•NO3·Mg–Al LDHs and Cl·Mg–Al LDHs could take up boron from aqueous solutions.•Boron was removed by anion exchange of B(OH)4− with intercalated NO3− and Cl−.•The residual concentration of B was less than the effluent standards in Japan.•The removal of B was well described by a pseudo second-order kinetic equation.•The adsorption of B followed a Langmuir-type adsorption. Mg–Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) intercalated with NO3− (NO3·Mg–Al LDHs) and with Cl− (Cl·Mg–Al LDHs) were found to take up boron from aqueous solutions. Boron was removed by anion exchange of B(OH)4− in solution with NO3− and Cl− intercalated in the interlayer of the LDH. Using three times the stoichiometric quantity of NO3·Mg–Al LDH, the residual concentration of B decreased from 100 to 1.9mgL−1 in 120min. Using five times the stoichiometric quantity of Cl·Mg–Al LDH, the residual concentration of B decreased from 100 to 5.6mgL−1 in 120min. It must be emphasized that, in both cases, the residual concentration of B was less than the effluent standards in Japan (10mgL−1). The rate-determining step of B removal by the NO3·Mg–Al and Cl·Mg–Al LDHs was found to be chemical adsorption involving anion exchange of B(OH)4− with intercalated NO3− and Cl−. The removal of B was well described by a pseudo second-order kinetic equation. The adsorption of B by NO3·Mg–Al LDH and Cl·Mg–Al LDH followed a Langmuir-type adsorption. The values of the maximum adsorption and the equilibrium adsorption constant were 3.6mmolg−1 and 1.7, respectively, for NO3·Mg–Al LDH, and 3.8mmolg−1 and 0.7, respectively, for Cl·Mg–Al LDH. The B(OH)4− in B(OH)4·Mg–Al LDH produced by removal of B was found to undergo anion exchange with NO3− and Cl− in solution. The NO3·Mg–Al and Cl·Mg–Al LDHs obtained after this regeneration treatment were able to remove B from aqueous solutions, indicating the possibility of recycling NO3·Mg–Al and Cl·Mg–Al LDHs for B removal.