Geothermal energy is often celebrated for its clean, renewable power—but what if the real value lies in what we’ve overlooked? Lyudmila S. Avfukova, a researcher at the Scientific Research Geotechnological Center in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, believes the key to unlocking geothermal’s full potential may lie in its wastewater. Her team’s study, published in *Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Asset Engineering*, examines how boron—a naturally occurring element in geothermal fluids—could be extracted rather than discarded, turning a waste stream into a resource.
Avfukova’s research zeroes in on the Pauzhetskaya GeoPP, Russia’s oldest geothermal power plant, where geothermal fluids carry boron concentrations ranging from trace amounts to over 200 mg/L. Currently, these fluids are partially discharged into nearby waterways, including the Bystry brook and the Pauzhetka River, where boron levels exceed environmental safety thresholds. “The exploitation of geothermal plants results in the formation of wastewater, which is fully or partially discharged into the territories adjacent to the geothermal field,” Avfukova notes, highlighting the dual challenge of resource waste and ecological harm.
The commercial implications are significant. Extracting boron from geothermal wastewater isn’t just an environmental safeguard—it’s a potential revenue stream. Boron is a critical component in glass manufacturing, agriculture (as a micronutrient), and advanced materials like boron carbide. By recovering it, geothermal operators could offset operational costs while complying with stricter environmental regulations.
So how do we extract boron efficiently? Avfukova’s review identifies several promising methods, including electrochemical treatments and sorption techniques using ion-exchange resins or boron-selective sorbents. Among the most effective materials tested are natural zeolites from Kamchatka’s Yagodninskoe deposit and modified pumice, both of which show high sorption capacity for boron. These approaches could be scaled for industrial use, turning geothermal separators—once seen as waste—into secondary mineral processing plants.
For the energy sector, this research suggests a shift in perspective: geothermal power isn’t just about heat and electricity. It’s about mining heat *and* minerals simultaneously. As Avfukova’s work demonstrates, the fluids feeding turbines may hold untapped commercial value. The next step? Scaling these methods to make boron recovery economically viable for geothermal operators worldwide.
Published in *Izvestiya Tomskogo Politekhnicheskogo Universiteta: Inzhiniring Georesursov* (Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Asset Engineering), this study could redefine how we view geothermal energy—no longer just a clean power source, but a dual-purpose industry where waste becomes wealth.