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

ADVANCED ENERGY, Batteries and Capacitors, PODCASTS

Podcast – Lithium Battery Prices Set to Soar

Lithium battery prices have been steadily increasing since 2022 taking both manufacturers and consumers by surprise. This shift marks a significant rise and is a trend set to continue over the next few years.

ADVANCED ENERGY, Clean Fuels, Efficient Power Sources

Boron-Based Furan Polymers

Boron-based Furan polymers are a new class of renewable energy materials based on boron. These materials can provide portable energy sources, serve as catalysts in chemical reactions, and can potentially be used as electrode materials in lithium-ion batteries. They are also highly biodegradable.

ADVANCED ENERGY, INDUSTRY SECTORS

Boron and U.S. Rare Earths

The U.S. is boosting the stockpile of its rare earth minerals such as cobalt and lithium. Why? Partly to reduce dependence on China and partly to have a strategic policy towards rare earth sourcing and distribution. Rare earths are valuable resources used in E.V. batteries and decarbonization. What is the stance on boron and U.S. rare earths as a critical mineral?

Agriculture, FOOD SECURITY

Sustainable Farming: 5 Tips For A Greener Future

Sustainable farming is an approach to agriculture that focuses on producing food in an environmentally sustainable way. There are various such practices that are explained in the article.

Food Access, Food Availability, FOOD SECURITY, Food Stability

Global Food Dynamics and Boron

Global Food Dynamics and Boron: According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), nearly 1/3 of all fruit & vegetables produced globally are wasted each year. How can Boron Help alleviate this wastage?

APPLICATIONS, DECARBONIZATION

Boron: The Essential Element

Boron is a valuable and versatile mineral, with uses ranging from aerospace to automotive. It's critical in pursuing renewable energy, food security, and decarbonization.

ADVANCED ENERGY

Wind Turbine: The Need for Permanent Magnet

Magnets in wind turbines are revolutionizing energy production, providing a steady supply of electricity with their reliable magnetic powertrain.

DECARBONIZATION, MINING

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.

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, Energy Management Systems

Boron and Energy Management Systems

Advanced energy is a concept that has been around for centuries. It is the idea of using less fuel to do more work. Energy management systems using new minerals such as boron are becoming an integral part of advanced energy. They help minimize power generation...

ADVANCED ENERGY

Greener Energy Sources: Boron and Efficient Power Supply

Boron is a key element in the manufacture of efficient power sources. It is an important component in nuclear reactors and other types of generators. Boron also provides safe, reliable energy for homes, businesses, and industry. It can generate electricity efficiently and safely using its unique properties.

Agriculture, Crop Management, FOOD SECURITY

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?

Agriculture, Crop Management, Food Availability

Alfalfa Plant Needs A Powerful Dose Of Boron

Alfalfa plant need boron to thrive and reach their full potential. It's a trace element, but even in small amounts, it can make all the difference for this plant.

SCIENCE, Superconductors

Magnesium Diboride: A Promising Superconductor

Magnesium diboride is an inorganic compound made of boron and magnesium. Over years, MgB2 has progressed from a remarkable discovery to a promising superconductor.

DECARBONIZATION

DECARBONIZATION: Oil and Gas Sector Focus

It is no secret that the world needs decarbonization. For our planet to remain habitable, we need to lower the number of greenhouse gases in the air. Decarbonizing a material refers to lowering the amount or the intensity of carbon in it or by lowering the amount...

DECARBONIZATION, MINING

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?

ADVANCED ENERGY, Batteries and Capacitors

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.

Agriculture

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.

DECARBONIZATION

How Can Governments Implement Decarbonization

The world is now facing the daunting reality of climate change. Cities are starting to feel the effects, with some areas experiencing more extreme weather conditions than ever before and rainfall patterns changing. Countries need to work together to reduce...

ADVANCED ENERGY

Boron Magnets to Drive Powertrains

Boron is a key component for making permanent magnets. It creates stronger magnetic fields than other types of materials. Permanent magnets use boron to create the necessary poles that can be magnetized and demagnetized over and over again.

ADVANCED ENERGY

Nuclear Energy and 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, Efficient Power Sources, Energy Management Systems, Innovation

Hypersonic Flight Made Possible with Boron

What Is Hypersonic Flight? Hypersonic flight is a flight through the atmosphere below about 90 km at speeds ranging between Mach 5-10, a speed where dissociation of air begins to become significant and high heat loads exist. As an aircraft moves through the air,...

Efficient Power Sources, Electricity Generation, Innovation, RESEARCH

Boron – The Secret Behind New Battery Formats

BNNT - BORON NITRATE NANOTUBES ARE THE KEY TO LONGER BATTERY LIFEWith the growing need for eco-friendly power as a result of environmental concerns, developing batteries with high power is of increasing relevance. Li-S batteries are attracting much interest in both...

Agriculture, Crop Management, Environmental Protection

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.

Agriculture, Crop Management

Boron Deficiency In Woody Plants

Boron deficiency is widespread around the globe and constrains the growth and development of agriculture and forestry due to the lack of Boron in soil. Trees have a large body size, longer lifespan, and more Boron reserves than herbaceous plants, implying that woody species are more likely to suffer from long-term or mild Boron deficiency.

Human Health, MICRONUTRIENTS, PODCASTS

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.

FOOD SECURITY

Boron and Food Security Utilization

Food Utilization, or food metabolization, is one of three drivers of Food Security (the other two being Availability and Accessibility). Food Utilization is all about the ability of animals and humans to use and benefit from nutrients in their food either through absorption or intake via the proper natural consumption of food.

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.

Clean Fuels, Efficient Power Sources, Electricity Generation, RESEARCH

How Boron is Beneficial for Heat Conversion

How is Boron Beneficial for Heat Conversion? This is a topic of interest for many scientists, engineers, and chemists due to its unique properties. It is an element that plays a vital role in heat and other energy conversion processes. Additionally, it is important...

ADVANCED ENERGY, Nuclear Energy

Boron and Chernobyl

Boron (B₁₀), which comprises about 20% of elemental boron, is one of the best neutron absorbers. It is dissolved in the cooling water of power plants to control the chain reaction, to absorb enough neutrons to remove excess reactivity in PWR plants. In both BWRs and PWRs, it is used in control rods to control reactivity and change the power shape of the core.

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.

Agriculture, FOOD SECURITY

Boron for Tomato Plants: The Ultimate Guide

Tomato plants (Lycopersicum esculentum) require boron for proper growth and development. Boron is a micronutrient that helps with cell wall formation, calcium uptake, and meristematic activity.

DECARBONIZATION

Critical Material Boron Powering Decarbonization

Boron is a critical raw material for many sectors such as solar cells, fiber optics, and semiconductor manufacturing. Boron production is also tied to other elements like lithium which are increasingly in demand.

ADVANCED ENERGY, APPLICATIONS, Efficient Power Sources

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.

RESEARCH, Superconductors

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.

DECARBONIZATION

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.

ADVANCED ENERGY, DECARBONIZATION, Energy Management, Industrial emissions

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).

Agriculture, Human Health

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.

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.

DECARBONIZATION

Carbon-free Energy Technologies

Carbon Emission and The Greenhouse Effect Fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, and oil, have fueled the modernization of global economies. While being the fundamental energy drivers for all developed and developing nations over the last century, they have...

Metal Recovery Using Borates

By Borates Today | Environmental Protection

Metal Recovery Using Borates

Metal recovery refers to the process of extracting precious metals from various materials. One method for metal recovery involves using boron.

DECARBONIZATION: Oil and Gas Sector Focus

By Borates Today | DECARBONIZATION

DECARBONIZATION: Oil and Gas Sector Focus

Boron and Hydropower

By Borates Today | ADVANCED ENERGY, Efficient Power Sources, SCIENCE

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.

Boron Fuel

By Borates Today | ADVANCED ENERGY, APPLICATIONS, Clean Fuels

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.

European Critical Mineral Strategy for Boron

By Borates Today | ADVANCED ENERGY, MINING

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 Rocket Fuel

By Borates Today | ADVANCED ENERGY, APPLICATIONS, Efficient Power Sources

Boron Rocket Fuel

Podcast – Boron Essential for Healthy Plants

By Borates Today | Agriculture, Crop Management, FOOD SECURITY

Podcast – Boron Essential for Healthy Plants

Podcast - Today, we’re going to look at whether boron is essential for plants and healthy plant growth. Boron is a vital nutrient for plants. It plays a crucial role in regulating the development of root and shoot Meristem. And this helps complete the life cycles of plants from seed germination all the way through to a fully grown plant.

Boron – The Secret Behind New Battery Formats

By Borates Today | Efficient Power Sources, Electricity Generation, Innovation, RESEARCH

Boron – The Secret Behind New Battery Formats

Boron Nutrition in Rice Plants

By Borates Today | Farming, FOOD SECURITY, Human Health

Boron Nutrition in Rice Plants

Boron nutrition is essential for rice growth and yield. It improves plant water relations and increases the total chlorophyll content in rice plants. It also enhances the kernel quality and reduces panicle sterility for rice plants.

Decarbonization Agenda by American Pacific Borates

By Borates Today | ADVANCED ENERGY, Clean Fuels, Energy Management

Decarbonization Agenda by American Pacific Borates

American Pacific Borates Ltd listed on the ASX (ASX: ABR) is spearheading the decarbonization agenda through borates, the company is actively engaged in efforts to make energy transition and storage sustainable and efficient, while working on solutions for...