Use of Boron in Detergents and its Impact on Reclamation

Many parts of the world are experiencing severe water drought and it affects societies both economically and environmentally. Therefore, conservation practices are essential to balance water supply and demand. Greywater or wastewaters from showers and luandries, if treated well can be a reliable source for activities such as irrigation, toilet flushing and car washing. Greywaters are not as contaminated as sewage but still may require treatment before reuse. The application of insufficiently treated water for irrigation can cause harm to plants and animals. Pollutant such as boron in greywater is of particular interest because many plants are sensitive to even low concentrations. High concentrations of boron can induce toxicity, reduce growth rate and yield in plants. Therefore, proposed greywater treatment systems need to consider the sensitivity of plant species and boron concentrations and potential removal. This thesis reviews boron chemistry, its effect on plants and currently available boron removal technologies