Boron (B) has two stable isotopes: 10B and 11B, with abundances of approximately 19.8% and 80.2% in nature, respectively. 10B borate has a very strong neutron absorption capacity and is widely used in nuclear power, military equipment, modern industry, and medicine. In particular, enriched 10B borate, as an excellent neutron absorber in the nuclear industry, offers significant advantages over naturally abundant boric acid: it can substantially increase the concentration of 10B in reactor cooling systems while reducing the overall amount of boric acid used. Related research indicates that the benefits of increased 10B concentration include: enhanced reactor capacity, increased use of MOX (mixed oxide) fuel, increased cycle and combustion cycles, reduced fuel consumption per cycle, significantly reduced wastewater treatment costs, and lower final fuel costs as well as intermediate and final storage costs.
