Ultra-fast and effective ultrasonic synthesis of potassium borate: Santite

Abstract

Abstract In this study, a potassium borate compound of santite is synthesized at 60°C, 70°C, 80°C, and 90°C reaction temperature for 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 min reaction time by using eight different raw material combinations of K2CO3, KNO3, NaOH, H3BO3, B2O3, Na2B4O9·5H2O, and Na2B4O9·10H2O. According to the X-ray diffraction analysis synthesized potassium borate compound is identified as “santite (KB5O8·4H2O)” with powder diffraction file no. 01-072-1688. Raman spectroscopy results showed that the synthesized compound consists of typical boron mineral bands, and the spectra obtained were in mutual agreement with potassium borate, according to the literature. Scanning electron microscopic morphologies showed that obtained santite has different particle shapes as the raw material combination changed and the particle sizes are found between 305 nm and 2.03 µm. Overall reaction yields are found between 76.11% and 99.26%, even such lower reaction times with respect to the literature.