Story perspectives

Chinese Scientists Innovate Boron Extraction from Seawater

12/8/2025

33 7

Summary

Story summary

Scientists at Northwest A&F University in China have developed a technology to extract boron from seawater.
The innovation matters because boron is essential for manufacturing neodymium-iron-boron magnets used across industries.
China has the highest boron demand but is not a leading producer, and most boron comes from Turkey and the United States.
Traditional desalination cannot remove boron from seawater, posing health risks from long-term consumption of purified water containing boron.

1 of 1

Story summary

Scientists at Northwest A&F University in China have developed a technology to extract boron from seawater.
The innovation matters because boron is essential for manufacturing neodymium-iron-boron magnets used across industries.
China has the highest boron demand but is not a leading producer, and most boron comes from Turkey and the United States.
Traditional desalination cannot remove boron from seawater, posing health risks from long-term consumption of purified water containing boron.