PLANET BORON
We have only one planet. Resources are finite, and it is our joint responsibility to take action to make the world a better place for future generations. Planet Boron is an initiative by Borates Today to harness the strengths and benefits of one of the world’s most precious resources – BORON – and publish news and events about boron’s availability, applications, benefits for achieving the collective vision and shared goals as we embrace multiple goals related to four key areas: Decarbonization; Advanced Energy, Food Security and Micronutrients.
DECARBONIZATION
ADVANCED ENERGY
FOOD SECURITY
MICRONUTRIENTS
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.
Graphene and Boron – a Mighty Combination
The materials of the future is here now! Boron doped Graphene (B-G) happens to be developed as an anode product for lithium-ion batteries!
Palm Trees and Boron
Palm trees are commonly found in tropical environments, and benefit from the micronutrient boron. Without sufficient micronutrients, their health and growth can be affected.
Renewable Energy Transition: A Switch from Carbon to Metals
Renewable energy is an essential tool in the fight against climate change. One key element of this energy transition is the switch from carbon-based materials to metals.
Decarbonization and Boron
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.
Food Security in Food and Beverage Companies
Having a secure food supply is critical to any modern society. Food security has many aspects, one of which is the availability and sustainability of food. The global population is predicted to reach 9 billion by 2050, which will impact our current food system...
Boron Rocket Fuel
Boron Rocket Fuel: Boron has a high intrinsic energy density. It is inexpensive, plentiful, and stable, making it a good choice for solid rocket fuels and an additive for jet fuels to increase their energy output. However, the oxide shell and its impurities make boron unreliable at the ignition point. Research is ongoing into overcoming these impurities so that boron fuel may be used more widely in space travel.
Boron Deficiency in Plants: Symptoms and Cures
Boron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency that causes crop production and quality losses. But what are its symptoms and cures?
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."
Podcast – Boron Markets Ultimate Guide Part 2
Today, we'll continue our look at a number of markets where boron and borax compounds are used, including the Boron Trifluoride Market, Potassium Fluoborate Market, the Tin Fluoborate Market, the Permanent Magnets Market, the Super Abrasives Market, the Cubic Boron Nitride Market, the Hexagonal Boron Nitride Market, the Lithium BIS Borate Market, and the Cubic Boron Nitrates Market.
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?
Food Security Policies for Developing Nations
Developing nations must insure they have policies and practices that insure the supply of Boron and Borates for the Food Security. Boron and Borates are central to crop yield, nutrition value and the health of nations and hence Security of it people.
Boron Fertilizers
Boron helps to improve the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers by making them more available to plants and plays a vital role in Food Security. Industrial production of fertilizer has increased necessitating a need for sustainability with boron and nitrogen that drive industry.
Podcast – The Mind Diet
Today, we're going to talk about the Mind diet and give you a simple guide to improving 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.
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.
Boron and Carbon Footprint
Boron carbon footprint - A major problem in the world today is climate change and it has been a long-debated topic. Some people are convinced that it is not happening, while others think the world is doomed to an uninhabitable fate. The truth is that climate change is happening and we must reduce its impact on our lives. The Earth's temperature has been increasing over time, and this will have a major impact on our planet.
Boron Carbon Capture Research
Boron Carbon Capture Research: Carbon capture is a way to reduce carbon emissions and could play a key role in combating global warming. Pre- and post-combustion carbon capture is possible. Boron's properties as a solid absorbent allow carbon dioxide to be captured more efficiently in the first stage of the capture process.
Boric Acid in Energy Storage Systems
Energy storage is a key piece of the puzzle in easing energy transition, and a new system developed by scientists at TU Wien can store a large amount of energy in an eco-friendly way.
Rio Tinto Decarbonization
Rio Tinto announced a $7.5 billion plan to reduce carbon emissions to 50% by 2030 in October 2021. Rio Tinto stated that it aimed to reduce carbon emissions by half by 2020 as steel and iron ore producers push for compliance with international climate commitments. Rio pushed forward its 2020 target for a 15% reduction of emissions from 2018, five years earlier than it had previously planned.
Hydrogen Boron Fusion – Creating New Energy
Hydrogen-Boron 11 fusion -Boron Hydrogen Fusion - has always been the ultimate fusion reaction. It does not create radioactive waste and its fuels are both abundant in nature and non-radioactive. Few other researchers had studied this reaction as it was considered scientifically too difficult. The temperatures required to ignite the reaction are more than 100 times higher than that of the sun – a technical hurdle that has held back practical energy generation for decades.
Lithium-ion Battery Market Analysis
The lithium-ion battery market continues to grow in popularity, with electric vehicles and the need for better energy storage solutions driving its demand.
Boron Reduces Carbon Dioxide
Boron reduces carbon dioxide: Boron is one such amazing catalyst that reduces CO2 in the presence of only water and light irradiation. This serves as a foundation for a new and more efficient method of transforming CO2 into a usable carbon source for manufacturing fuels and chemicals.
FEAM: A Solution To Global Decarbonization
FEAM focuses on providing secure and reliable supplies of critical materials that empower global decarbonization and creating a better future for generations.
Boron and Hydropower
Boron inclusive technology shows how we can harness the power from seawater to bring zero-carbon energy worldwide. Decarbonization has been a goal for quite some time, and it seems like this year, governments will finally agree on stricter regulations that would make it possible to achieve this objective by 2050 or sooner. Boron has been working to bring sustainable energy sources for all, and Boron and Hydropower technology is an excellent example of achieving this goal.
Borates in Adhesives
Borates in Adhesives: Borates are used for home and commercial use. For commercial use, they are commonly used in adhesives by the paperboard and corrugated paper industries. The primary chemical compounds for adhesive applications are sodium decahydrate, borax decahydrate, and boric acid.
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.
Ammonia Borane Powers Space Exploration
Ammonia Borane is an excellent choice for rocket fuel given its ease of manufacture, availability, and low storage costs. It is also a good additive for jet fuel. Scientists at the University of California Riverside are testing ammonia borane, NH3BH3, as an alternative to traditional carbon-based chemical rocket fuels. This could lead to carbon-free space launches.
European Critical Mineral Strategy for Boron
The European Commission has a solid policy on a raw materials initiative for access to critical minerals such as Boron. Going back to 2008 the initiative was based on three pillars: a fair supply from global markets; sustainable collection; and recycling resources.
Boron Nitride Nanotubes
Boron nitride nanotubes are a new material that has been studied for use in strengthening lightweight materials, such as plastics and polymers. It is also being researched for use in electronics, aerospace engineering, and medicine. The Boron Nitride Nanotubes market has grown steadily over the past few years.
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.
Canola Needs Boron to Thrive
Canola is a Brassica family member with especially high boron requirements. Boron deficiency significantly impacts seed production; yields are doubled when 2 lbs of boron per acre are applied to the canola field with no visual anomalies.
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.
Creeping Charlie with Borax: The Best Weedkiller
Creeping Charlie weed is difficult to eliminate, but borax can kill the plant's roots, preventing it from spreading, and taking over lawns or gardens.
The Future of Solar: Boron and Energy Efficiency
Energy transition is a hot topic these days, and one way that scientists have been working on reducing our dependence on fossil fuels has been through solar panels. Boron plays an integral role in the efficiency of solar panels- without it, photovoltaic cells would not be able to convert light into electricity as efficiently.
Podcast – EV Batteries and Boron
In today's podcast, we're going to look at electric vehicle, EV batteries. Electric vehicle batteries are rechargeable batteries that power electric cars bikes and scooters. They are specifically designed to give power over a sustained period and are deep cycle batteries.
Video – The Rapid Growth of the Battery Storage Market
Boron is powering the future of battery storage technology, making it an outstanding investment for those looking to capitalize on energy storage.
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...
Podcast – Turkey and Boron
Today, we're going to look at Turkey and Boron. Turkey is the world's largest producer of boron through the government-owned Eti Maden. With enough reserves to cover global demand for the next 500 years, Turkey stands first in market share, manufactures, and markets 62% of the world's boron.
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.
Geothermal Energy Could Solve Lithium Shortage
The potential for geothermal energy to provide a sustainable and reliable energy source is well known. But what is less appreciated is geothermal energy's role in solving one of the 21st century's most pressing challenges.
Boron Benefits Mango Fruit Yields And Quality
Mango fruit is one of the most popular fruits in the world, known for its sweet taste and juicy flesh. But did you know that boron plays an important role in mango fruit quality? What happens if mangoes are boron-deficient? And, how can the boron level be improved for higher yields and quality?
Boron in Energy Conservation
In response to energy conservation demands, energy conservation is a system has for some time been implemented in homes, as well as industrial and commercial sectors. When we talk about energy conservation, boron is the most efficient and naturally occurring chemical. Energy consumption adversely affects the economy on all levels; high energy costs are an impediment to economic development for any country. A determined effort needs are taken by both private individuals & large businesses alike to reduce their input of "energy" into our global ecosystem - which includes many aspects including economic output (gross domestic product).
U.S. Renewable Energies Strategy to Benefit Boron and Lithium
U.S. Government Doubles Down on Renewable Energies Strategy to Secure Boron, Lithium MetalThe U.S. Government continues to assure mining producers that it is determined to secure strategic minerals such as Boron and Lithium for EV production and other advanced energy needs as these sectors are poised to grow significantly in the coming decade. The Biden administration is looking even more closely at approving domestic sources of electric battery vehicle metals such as boron and lithium.
Podcast – Boron at Fukushima
In today's podcast, we’re going to look at the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011 and how Boron helps to contain the radiation and the potential spread of nuclear fallout.
Coconut Palm and Boron: The Nutrient Connection
Coconut palm (Cocos Nucifera) is a tropical tree cultivated for many uses. It produces large, fibrous fruit, an important food, and oil source for millions worldwide. In addition to being a dietary staple, coconuts make various products, including cosmetics, soaps, and detergents.
LFP Batteries: High-Performance Batteries
LFP batteries have been around since the late 1990s. Still, it is only now making its way into North America and Europe by redefining the market for batteries and EVs.
Boron in Food
The highest levels of boron are found in plant foods, including fruit, legumes, and tubers, leafy green vegetables, kale, spinach, and non-citrus fruits. Boron can also be seen as a component of grains, fruits, nuts, prunes, raisins, and other non-citrus fruit. Boron is also found in lesser amounts in beer, wine, and cider.
Advanced Energy – Nissan EV Battery Move
Nissan is currently the only automaker with a complete lineup of electric vehicles, including full-electric cars, plug-in hybrids, and zero-emission light commercial vehicles. The company’s goal is to be an industry leader in advanced energy and zero-emission mobility by 2030. As a leader in developing new battery technologies to improve efficiency and power for their lineup of vehicles, use of rare earth metals and near rare earth metals such as boron and lithium is at the heart of the battery power program. But batteries have a limited lifespan. Once it comes to recycling, there is too much waste. Nissan is tackling this problem with Waseda University to produce breakthrough innovations in Electric Vehicles technology.
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."
Podcast – Boron and Food Security
In today's podcast, we're going to look at boron and food security. Boron plays a considerable role in food utilization, principally by improving the nutritional value of fertilizers for plant growth development. It also increases crop yield through increased nitrogen fixation rates in soils deficient in micronutrients.