BORON AND BORATES NEWS
Borates Today publishes news, insights, guides, and latest special reports about boron, borates, and borax for investors, researchers, and readers interested in Decarbonization; Advanced Energy, Food Security and Micronutrients.
NEWS
Advanced Materials Need Boron
How Boron Enhances the Value of Advanced Materials? Boron is an ingredient in advanced materials with a wide range of applications. It is mainly useful as a dopant and part of semiconductors, fiber optics, and other electronics. Boron-containing compounds are also...
Lithium Borate Project Ioneer
A collaboration between Ioneer and Sibanye Stillwater has recently been announced toa Lithium-boron mining project. Ioneer chose this established mining company as a partner for this joint venture. A feasibility study provided definitive results in 2020, validating the project as a world-class resource.
Vegetable Plants and Boron
Boron is an essential micronutrient for vegetable plants. While it is required for every vegetable plant, its quantity differs from one kind to another.
Nuclear Waste Is Revolutionizing The Glass Industry
Nuclear waste can now be vitrified into durable borosilicate glass for long-term secure storage which is an ingenious breakthrough in hazardous management.
Gender Inequality In The Face of Food Insecurity
Gender inequality contributes significantly to food insecurity. Boron is an essential micronutrient that aids in the improvement of food security and, there are implications for gender equality by increasing agricultural production efficiencies.
White Howlite: The Healing Gemstone
White Howlite is a remarkable gemstone, from stylish jewelry pieces to the soothing properties it holds, this captivating borate mineral has certainly made an indelible mark.
Marine Life Thrives With Boron
Boron is a remarkable chemical element that plays an essential part in maintaining the delicate balance of marine life.
NEWS
Magnesium Boron Mixture For Energy Innovations
A magnesium/boron mechanical mixture is being developed for energy innovations. The combination of these two materials creates a strong and lightweight composite that has the potential to be used in a variety of energy applications.
Podcast – Facts about Sodium-Ion Batteries
Today, we're going to talk about sodium-ion batteries. It's no secret that batteries are a big part of our lives. They power our mobile phones, laptops, and cars. For manufacturers and consumers alike, several factors are important such as pricing durability, power density, safety, and temperature operating range.
Boron in Pools
Keeping your swimming pool clean might seem like a daunting task as maintaining a swimming pool is not always easy, but the application of boric acid and sodium borates can make it much easier. Boric acid and sodium borates are commonly used as pH buffers in swimming pools and spas.
Battery Systems for Advanced Energy Management
Advanced energy Energy is the next big thing in an increasingly competitive market. The most important contributors to this are battery production, so it's time for investors and analysts to get up-to-date on their latest trends. Energy storage has been a key issue in recent years as we transition away from fossil fuels and towards clean renewable power sources. To store intermittent solar or wind power, we need some way of storing electricity when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing, which means investing heavily in batteries. Batteries help us bridge that gap between...
Boron Powers Neodymium Magnets
What are Neodymium magnets? The answer is “Super Magnets”. Neodymium (Nd-Fe-B) are rare earth magnets are composed of neodymium, iron, boron, and a few transition metals. The elements of neodymium are classified as “rare earth” magnets because they lie in the lanthanides section on the Periodic Table. A Neodymium magnet is a type of permanent magnet that uses the power of neodymium (NdFeB), one of the strongest substances known. It exhibits superior resistance to heat and corrosion, as well as elevated tolerance for ferromagnetic materials in close contact with it. These strong for their...
Boron Trichloride
Boron trichloride is an inorganic compound with the formula BCl3. It is a colorless gas, which is highly reactive to water. Common uses for Boron Trichloride are in organic synthesis. Boron Trichloride does have several negative health effects so it needs to be handled with care.
Double-Layer Borophene Created in Engineering Breakthrough
Research has led to a double-layer of borophene for the first time. This is significant because it could lead to faster, more efficient electronics that are also smaller and lighter than current models. Borophene is under study for less than 10 years but already holds potential as an exciting new material in engineering. The research team hopes that this will be the first step towards creating "graphene on steroids."
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GUIDE TO BORON
APPLICATIONS
Boron Fuel
Boron Fuel - While lithium-ion batteries are powering the road ahead for electric vehicles such as the Tesla S and others, several disruptive scientists and entrepreneurs are paving the way for an entirely new form of fuel – Hydrogen Boron fuel. Analysts claim a single gram of Boron could provide enough fuel to allow a vehicle to travel 80,000 kilometres.
Boric Acid or Borax for Home Pest Control
Boric acid and borax have been popular choices as home remedies for controlling pests like cockroaches and ants for many years. How effective are they? And are they safe to use around the home?
CHEMISTRY
Boron Trifluoride
Boron trifluoride is capable of forming complexes with dimethyl, such as boron-trifluoride–dimethyl ether. These complexes are typically formed to allow for the easy handling of boron trifluoride. Boron trifluoride might also form complexes when combined with water, phenol or phosphoric acids, piperidines, dimethylanilines, methanol, and diethyl ether.
Boronic Acid
Boronic Acid, or acids, works as Lewis acids, and they form reversible covalent complexes with sugars, amino acids, hydroxamic acids, and others. It is considered a unique feature of the acid group. They are extensively used in organic chemistry in the form of chemical building blocks.
RESEARCH
Boron in Electrochemistry
Boron in Electrochemistry: Boron-doped diamond has been utilized as an electrode for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 - the conversion of CO2 to more reduced chemical species using electrical energy. It is one method for capturing and utilizing carbon. Boron-doped diamond enables hydrogen evolution to compete with CO2 reduction and suppress it. However, high overpotentials are still a problem that needs solving.
Nickel Boron Plating Protects Firearms Against Corrosion
COATING FIREARMS WITH BORON The firearm industry has been using nickel boron coatings for many years, and this is largely because of the protective and anti-corrive benefits that it offers. Nickel boron coating results in a highly wear-resistant surface, and it...
Lithium Miners To Watch In Upcoming Years
December closed out with a surge of momentum for the Lithium Miners where investors are looking forward to investing in these companies.
Ultimate Guide to Boron Markets
Learn more about well-researched forecasts for the various global boron markets.
BENEFITS
Boron Health Benefits
Boron is an essential mineral for human health and in many cases, it cannot be obtained through diet alone. It has been found that boron deficiency can lead to bone diseases such as osteoporosis, arthritis or joint pain. Boron deficiency also leads to reduced ability of the body to absorb calcium which may lead to brittle nails, teeth or bones. For those who are faced with these conditions and need relief, there are a number of different ways to get treated with the help of Boron medically.
Podcast – Does Boron Help in Weight Loss
Podcast - In today's podcast, we're going to look at whether Boron-rich food actually helps in weight loss. Can supplements like Boron help you lose weight more quickly? If, so how much boron do you need? And what food sources contain the most boron?
MINING BORON & BORATES
MINING
Lithium Miners Update for January 2023
January marked a thrilling start to the year for Lithium Miners, as investors eagerly sought out these companies in anticipation of exciting opportunities.
Boron Mining: Sources and Major Producers
Boron, a naturally occurring element in the earth's crust, is extracted from several locations globally, including Turkey, China, and the United States.
Country Profile of Bolivia
Bolivia is one of the largest producers of borates globally after Turkey, the USA, Chile, and Argentina. Extraction and production of ulexite is the main activity centered around the south of the country, with both public and private companies involved. Exports are mostly sodium borates and boric acid, with Brazil and China among the largest buyers.
Country Profile of China
Country Profile of China Borates - China is a net importer of borates with few natural resources. However, it still dominates in exporting finished products to global markets as the third-largest exporter. China holds only 3% of global borate reserves. China's most crucial boron minerals are tincal, borosilicate, and ascharite. Liaoning and Qinghai are the main areas with minable borate resources.
INVEST IN BORON
Billion Dollar Boron
Billion dollar boron. In 2021, borates sales hit billions of dollars. Why? The demand for boron is increasing rapidly in strategic sectors such as aerospace and defense, zero-carbon, and advanced energy solutions, which depend on boron-based technologies to reduce emissions. Recent forecasts predict that boron demand will increase by 30% by the end of the decade.
Demand Surges for Boron from Battery Producers
The clean energy shift is happening, and it’s more than just an environmental movement. As more people turn to renewable sources of power, the demand for battery minerals is increasing exponentially worldwide. Boron, lithium, and graphite are essential minerals seeing increased share prices because of this trend.
Introduction to Boron and Lithium
Many investors are aware that boron and lithium are two essential elements for use in Advanced Energy. What is the difference between the two minerals?
3 Lithium Stocks to Watch
Mining for Lithium is not an easy job. To be cost-effective requires stringent procedures and regulations in place and also needs to have a decent turn-around time and stand up to the promise of being a long-term supply source for clients. We look at three Lithium companies that have not only shown profits through an otherwise tumultuous time but also served their clients' present needs with a roadmap for the future.
PLANET BORON
DECARBONIZATION
Sustainable Agriculture: A Greener Way to Grow
Sustainable agriculture uses micronutrients such as boron, zinc, and copper to promote soil health and support healthy plant growth.
Boron in Bioconversion
Rio Tinto Mine. The Serbian government has finally revoked Rio Tinto's licenses for lithium exploration in Serbia in the latter part of January 2022. The government gave in to the protesters who have been opposed to the Anglo-Australian mining company's project on environmental grounds. Last year, the company committed to the project as global miners push for metals necessary to transition to green energy. This includes lithium which is used in the production of electric vehicle batteries. The project was already suspended in December 2021 due to environmental deterioration and forced displacement concerns.
ADVANCED ENERGY
The Unforgettable Power Of Carbide
Carbide synthesis usually begins with synthesizing the respective metal hydride, which is then treated with carbonaceous materials to produce the carbides.
Fluids, Fuel, Lubricants and Additives
Fluids, Fuel, Lubricants and Additives - Boron has been proven to be an excellent lubricant for engine components. University of Utah researchers found that parts coated with boron had 50% less friction than others. This may result in significant fuel savings and increased engine durability. Boron should become an essential ingredient in fuels and engine technology once its potential benefits are further clarified.
FOOD SECURITY
Boron – The Building Block of Urbanization
Boron is a metal useful to modern societies for over 100 years. It is most commonly available as borax in household cleaning products. Or, as the boric acid in eye drops and mouthwashes. However, it has many other uses in urbanization. It is present in construction...
Boron: The Micronutrient For Plants
Boron is a mineral of importance to plant growth and health; it is involved in processes like cell division, pollination, and seed production.
MICRONUTRIENTS
Ensuring Micronutrient Boron Supply
Famine is a natural disaster that occurs in underdeveloped countries, famine areas, and war-torn regions. In these regions, micronutrients such as boron are scarce or unavailable to the local population. The lack of micronutrients leads to malnutrition which can cause poverty and other issues such as disease and death. Here is a discussion on the importance of micronutrients for famine relief efforts. Check out their benefits for mental health, physical health, and economic development.
How Boron Helps Your Garden Thrive
Micronutrients play an important role in plants' life and growth. Mineral deficiencies can lead to serious problems with the plants such as stunted growth and rougher leaves. It can also result in interveinal chlorosis of leaves, purpling of leaf margins and...