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
Balancing Habitat versus Critical Mineral Mining
Balancing Habitat versus Critical Mineral Mining: Lithium and boron are two examples of crucial minerals essential in reducing our planet's carbon footprint for industries such as defense, automotive, construction, aviation, and aerospace. It is challenging to preserve the natural environment when starting new mines to extract these resources. How do companies such as Rio Tinto, American Pacific Borates (currently rebranding to 5E Advanced Materials), and Ioneer manage this dilemma and obtain the permits necessary in their respective locations?
Overview of Boron Phosphide
Boron Phosphide is a chemical compound of boron and phosphorus. It is a semiconductor with high thermal and chemical stability, useful in high-power applications. Van der Waals heterostructures (vdW) are promising structures for future optoelectronic devices. Recent studies on vdW heterostructures investigated the electronic and optical properties of boron phosphide heterostructures in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) and tight-binding (TB) approximations.
Critical Raw Materials: Decarbonization and Digitalization
Critical raw materials (CRMs) are a group of key materials essential for the EU's economy and society to function. They are used in various strategic technologies and sectors, including renewable energy, electric vehicles, defense, healthcare and consumer electronics.
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
Decarbonization: Implications on different Sectors
Decarbonization, Boron and Mining The mining and metal industry is one of the most carbon-intensive industries in the world, generating a sizable percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions. How quickly has decarbonization been going on in the mining and metal industry? There are broadly two different facets of decarbonization: (1) changes in production methods for raw materials; and (2) supply chains for downstream products. We'll also look at some reasons why decarbonizing these sectors may be more difficult than it seems.Mining Sector Climate change is a real and increasingly...
Company Profile of Li-S Energy Limited – Boron Battery
Li-S Energy Limited, established in 2019, is an Australian company, a joint venture between Li-S Energy's founding shareholders, PPK Group, BNNT Technology, and Deakin University. Its purpose is to develop a new battery technology that incorporates Boron Nitride Nanotubes, which are more efficient, lower cost, and greener than current batteries for markets including automotive, defense and aviation.
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.
Tesla and Boron
Tesla is an American electric vehicle manufacturer and clean energy company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Tesla manufactures electric cars and battery energy storage from home to grid-scale, solar panels, solar roof tiles, and other related products and services. With a market capitalization of almost $1 trillion, Tesla is one of the most valuable automobile manufacturers globally. It uses lithium and boron to deliver alternative energy sources and boron to provide a lighter, more muscular frame.
Rare Earth Magnet Producers Using Boron to Get Tax Credits
Boron is giving a shot in the arm to North America’s alternate energy transition initiatives, a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives has introduced legislation to extend tax credits to companies that domestically produce rare earth magnets with boron and other minerals inside.
Ultimate Guide to Boron Markets
Learn more about well-researched forecasts for the various global boron markets.
Mining Companies Supporting Clean Energy
The clean energy transition is underway, and miners play a critical role in supporting this global effort. Boron, for example, is a key ingredient in batteries and other storage technologies that will be essential to integrating renewables into the grid.
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GUIDE TO BORON
APPLICATIONS
Boron – The Wonder Mineral
The mineral Boron is a wonder. It is one of the building blocks for our modern lifestyle. We use it every day in all sorts of things, from concrete to computer chips. Yet few people know what it is or which countries use it extensively. This article will tell you...
Borates in Metallurgy
Borates in Metallurgy have been used over the centuries for both non-ferrous smelting and precious metals refining. Evidence suggests that gold-makers used borates as a fluxing agent even in Babylonian times. Borates lower the melting point and prevent oxidation. They also remove metal oxides and help to adjust the slag's viscosity for easier removal from the molten metal. Borates can also be used in lead recycling and metal recovery.
CHEMISTRY
Borax: The Safe and Effective Detergent
Borax is used in cleaning products because it helps remove dirt and grime. But we need to handle it carefully or it can be dangerous if ingested by children. Borax is a white powdery substance that is also known as sodium tetraborate. Although sodium tetraborate is a salt of boric acid, it is not an acid, it’s a salt.
Boron Doped Nanodiamonds For Photocatalysis
Boron-doped nanodiamonds (BNDs) are a special type of diamond that has been modified with borons. They have been shown to enhance photocatalytic activation and thus increase their potential use in various fields.
RESEARCH
Boron Research Areas
Boron Research ranges from commercial technologies to extensive studies in chemistry, notably boron nitride nanotubes and hydrogen-boron fusion. In commercial endeavors, boron is a new-age material stock driving innovation and performance in various fields.
Tensile Strength in Auto Manufacturing
Boron alloy steels with high tensile strength can be carbon, low alloy, HSLA, and carbon-manganese. Boron's high neutron absorbtion means that stainless steels used for nuclear industry, for instance, are often enriched with boron. It can be as high as 4%, but is more commonly 0.5 to 1 percent.
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
MIND Diet For Memory and Cognition
The MIND diet emphasizes the importance of various nutrients and minerals, including boron. Boron plays a key role in brain health and cognitive function.
Agriculture: The Importance of Boron
The Role of Boron in Agriculture Boron is a chemical element that aids in the growth of crops and agricultural operations. It helps to provide healthy soil and increase crop yields. It also reduces leaching from soils, prevents diseases in plants, as well as many...
MINING BORON & BORATES
MINING
Country Profile of Russia
Country Profile of Russia: Russia is the fourth-largest supplier of borates to global markets, which present about 12% of the global total, with boric acid as the main export. The current Russia, Ukraine conflict is not having a noticeable impact on supply and production in the short term for borates supply. Still, Putin is considering sanctions on a wide range of minerals and finished products for export.
Biden Administration Issues Critical and Strategic Mineral Policy
Biden Administration is taking strategic steps to safeguard the clean energy transition, protecting access and availability of critical minerals such as lithium and boron.
Lithium Miner Ioneer To Receive $700m from DOE
Ioneer, a lithium mining company, has secured a remarkable $700 million investment from the U.S Department of Energy to develop their Rhyolite Ridge lithium/boron project.
Podcast – Boron and U.S. Rare Earths
Podcast - Today, we're going to take a look at boron and US rare earths and the stockpiling policy. The US is boosting the stockpile of its rare earth materials, such as cobalt and lithium. But why is this? The answer is partly to reduce dependence on China and partly to have a strategic policy towards rare earth sourcing and distribution.
INVEST IN BORON
Boron Joins the Rare Earths Club
Rare Earth elements are valuable because they have magnetic and optical properties which create technologies in components such as audio speakers, hard drives, camera lenses, MRI imaging, and monitors of all sorts. But there is a cost to mining them as post-mining purification processes create hazardous waste. Boron is a potential alternative, providing clean and superconductive, energy-efficient benefits while being cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
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?
ABR Boron Production 3x
According to a press release from ABR on November 16th, 2021, the company has announced 'ABR production triples' with a near tripling of production capability for the critical mineral boron at its Fort Cady operations in Southern California. Boron is becoming recognized as an essential mineral for use in multiple applications in decarbonization, advanced energy - batteries- and food security- as a micronutrient.
PLANET BORON
DECARBONIZATION
Porous Boron Nitride
The formation and applications of porous Boron Nitride have been the subject of popular research lately. Its high porosity and thermal stability will help pave the way for improving large-scale industrial gas and liquid separations, such as those used in carbon capture or water treatment processes by reducing the amount of energy required.
Low Carbon Future with Boron
We live in a world where the environment is constantly going through changes. This is because we are running out of fossil fuels, and all it takes for our society to collapse is one more natural disaster. Therefore, the invention of new materials that facilitate the mission statement of a low carbon future is essential in today's day and age to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels.
ADVANCED ENERGY
Podcast – Lithium 101
Today, we're going to talk about lithium 101 - its chemical properties, where it's found and the mining processes to extract lithium from the ground, applications, market size, and demand for lithium. Lithium 101.
Boron and Solar Energy
Boron For Storage In Solar Energy
As our population and cities grow, so does our need for safe, sustainable energy. To meet global needs, we must increase the efficiency of our energy consumption and optimize the capacity of existing and emerging energy sources.
Solar and wind energy depend on strong, durable materials. Borax products help to enable these technologies—and we strive to make our operations sustainable, too.
FOOD SECURITY
Boron-based Polymers for EV Storage
Boron-based Polymers for EV Storage: Boron-based Polymers to Improve Electric Vehicle Energy Storage: Boron-based polymers such as BNNTs are 2D nanomaterials with excellent properties for improving electric vehicle energy storage given their high surface areas, large aspect ratios, and good thermal conductivities. Borates Today examines the potential for use of BNNTs in electric vehicle transmissions and batteries.
Food Security: Availability of Food with Boron
With food prices reaching all-time highs and the global population continuing to grow, ensuring food security is a top priority for many governments. This blog post will discuss the physical availability of food on a national and global level, how it can be...
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...