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

Borates in Bolivia
MINING

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.

Steve Jobs and Boron
INDUSTRY SECTORS

Apple iPhone and Boron:

Apple and Boron: Toughened glass products use Boron for its remarkable qualities and malleability in development and strength as a finished product. So how did Steve Jobs give the industry a boost to toughened glass production in the early days?

NEWS

Boron Extraction risk and rewards

Mining Boron and Borates

As a result of climate change, boron is becoming more and more sought after to cope with Decarbonization initiatives and Advanced Energy applications to reduce fuel and energy costs and reduce pollution levels. As global temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, we can expect an even greater need for boron to develop renewable energy sources. Use of Boron is also promoted in government regulations such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Power Plan to meet stricter emission standards for power plants.

Boron Rewrites the Rules for the Automotive Industry

Tensile strength

With electric vehicles becoming more popular, new material is needed for battery electrodes that can accommodate these changes. Boron is an excellent candidate because of its ability to efficiently transmit electrons while also being lightweight and inexpensive. It's not just used in batteries; it's also used as a coolant for engines and brakes, as well as a strengthening agent for steel alloys. 

Vegetable Garden: An Ultimate Guide To Using Boron

Vegetable Garden

Gardeners looking to add boron to their vegetable garden can do so in various ways. This helpful mineral plays a vital role in plant growth and development and can help improve overall yields. Learn how to add boron to the vegetable garden. Understand the benefits that this mineral can provide not only in the soil but also in the transportation and nutritional value boron brings to garden vegetables, and plants for that matter.

The Boron Production Process

Boron 101

Boron is a naturally occurring chemical element. It is mostly found in the arid regions of California and Turkey. Pure boron is extracted and converted into various agricultural and industrial products through diverse and complex processes.

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GUIDE TO BORON

APPLICATIONS

APPLICATIONS

Boron Lubricants for Drilling

Boron lubricants are multifunctional additives used in oil and gas exploration, drilling, and production. In addition to controlling pH, viscosity, and corrosion, they are also used to provide lubrication and exert other physical and chemical effects. Borates may be used in drilling fluid formulations to achieve several of these effects.

CHEMISTRY

RESEARCH

RESEARCH, SCIENCE

Boronates: Esters and Salts of Boronic Acid

Boronates are esters and salts of boronic acid. Boronic acid is a compound related to boric acid in which one of the three hydroxyl groups has been replaced by either an alkyl or an aryl group. The boronic acids are derived from boron, an element found in the earth's crust as boric oxide (B(OH)O). Boronic acids are produced when a borate salt reacts with acetic or propionic acid to form the corresponding boronic acid

BENEFITS

FOOD SECURITY, Human Health

Boron in Coffee

Coffee is one of the most susceptible crops to boron shortage. Boron in coffee is needed for coffee cultivation to improve yield and support healthy growth via cell divisions and cell wall formation in association with calcium, water uptake, roots growth, growth of internodes, setting, calcium uptake, lower aluminum toxicity, and drought resistance.

MINING BORON & BORATES

MINING

MINING

Country Profile of Argentina

Argentina is the fifth-largest producer of natural borates. Deposits of borate can be found throughout Argentina, including in the provinces of Neuquén (Gran Chaco), Rio Negro, San Juan, and Mendoza (Cordoba). The first boric acid in Argentina was produced in 1894 at the La Plata mine when sodium tetraborate ore was extracted for the first time. The country became a major producer in 1900.

MINING

Boron Mining Processes

Boron Mining Processes: Boron is an element that naturally occurs in nature. Borates mining producers  extract boron and borates from boron-containing minerals such as colemanite, ulexite, tincal, and kernite. The bulk of known borates deposits are found in Turkey. The USA is the second largest producer. Other regions include Argentina, Chile, Russia, China, and Peru. Commercially, boron mining is attracting attention due to its strategic importance in aerospace and defence as well as in green energy and advanced energy, helped by certain boron compounds.

Company Profiles, MINING

Rio Tinto Mine Serbia Lithium Boron Licences Revoked

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.

INVEST IN BORON

PLANET BORON

DECARBONIZATION

DECARBONIZATION, Environmental Protection

Boron drives the Low Carbon Economy

The push for increased decarbonization is being felt worldwide as investors pressure companies to take this issue seriously. The fossil fuel industry is feeling the heat, too, with some of its well-known members stepping up their efforts to reduce emissions and make a difference. Governments are also taking notice of these changes, and there has been an increase in legislation designed to incentivize investments in clean energy technology. How can Boron help?

ADVANCED ENERGY

ADVANCED ENERGY

9 Key Future Technologies Boron and Borates

Borates are ubiquitous, in that they exist all over the world. It is not unusual to find them anywhere from natural waters and soils on earth where plants grow. For most plant life cannot survive without boron, it's important for humans as well to take care of this element by regulating their use of fertilizers with potassium or sodium nitrate which can affect soil pH levels. Borates are also essential to a vast array of products we use on an everyday basis.

FOOD SECURITY

Chemistry, Crop Management, SCIENCE

How Toxic is Boron?

How toxic is Boron? Despite its low toxicity, boron can still be dangerous to humans if consumed in large amounts. It is well-known that excess boron can also affect plant growth and reproduction. In fact, toxicity of boron is considered one of the major causes of reduced crop production. In plants, high concentrations of boron can retard vegetative growth and decrease seed set.

MICRONUTRIENTS

FOOD SECURITY, 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.