Scientists from Northwest A&F University in China have developed an innovative technology to extract and collect boron from seawater.
Neodymium-iron-boron rare earth magnets – used extensively in industrial and military applications – have drawn particular attention amid ongoing trade tensions over critical minerals. These high-performance rare-earth magnets not only rely on neodymium and iron but also require boron during manufacturing, making access to all three elements strategically important in global supply chains.
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China has the highest demand for boron worldwide but it is not a major producer. Turkey and the United States together produce most of the world’s boron minerals.
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Seawater contains trace amounts of boron, which traditional reverse osmosis desalination technology cannot remove, and may even concentrate. Long-term consumption of purified water containing boron is harmful to human health.
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