The extraction technology status of boron from boron-containing minerals and its prospect

As an important kind of industrial raw materials, boron compounds extracted from ore are mainly in the form of boric acid or borax. China has adopted sulfuric acid method to produce boric acid and soda -CO₂ process to produce borax ever since the boron industry was established in the 1960 s. In recent years, with the decline of the grade of boron resource, the emergence of environment problems and the improvement of production purity, many new methods are being developed in hope to replace the traditional extraction technology gradually by improving boron ore leaching rate, reducing environment pollution and increasing the product p urity. The paper introduces the application of boric acid and borax, the existing extraction technology of the boron in china in particular, and the non-traditional extraction process of boron, as well as its development prospect.