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Environmental Biogeochemistry Research Group | Research Themes

Boron leaching from coal ash
Boron is readily leached from coal ash at ambient environmental conditions and represents a potential threat to water and soil environments in proximity to coal-ash waste dumps and landfill with large quantities of ash. This study investigates methods to routinely monitor the boron content of ash residues and leachate.

WOOD, J. and NICHOLSON, K. (1998). Boron determination in coal ash by fluoroborate ion-selective electrode. In: NICHOLSON, K. (Editor). Energy & the Environment. Geochemistry of fossil, nuclear & renewable resources. Environmental Geochemistry Series Volume 1, MacGregor Science. ISBN 0-9520950-5-X

Methods for the removal of borates from natural and waste waters
As boron commonly occurs as a neutral boric acid species, this is not removed by common water treatment processes and can therefore accumulate in areas of surface water abstraction where there is multiple utilisation downstream. This work is examining methods that may be employed to bring the boron drinking water level below WHO guidelines of 0.3mg/L.

Boron fractionation and mass balance across sewage treatment plants
Borates fractionate between the aqueous effluent and the sewage cake from a treatment plant. This study is examining the speciation of boron in the effluent, the proportion fractionated between the aqueous and solid phases and the total annual mass of boron discharged into the environment.

Behaviour of boron in soil profiles treated with sewage sludge
As disposal of sewage sludge onto agricultural land is a common practice that will see increased application, this project is investigating the fate of sewage-boron in the soil profile and the concomitant impacts on agricultural land quality.