Russia boron

Figure 6. Boron bio geochemical sub-region of biosphere in Russia and Kazakhstan.

Catalytic conversions were experimentally studied in Russia toward the end of the nineteenth century, and especially in the twentieth century, and regularities were empirically established in a number of cases. The work of A. M. Butlerov (1878) on polymerization of olefins with sulfuric acid and boron trifluoride, hydration of acetylene to acetaldehyde over mercury salts by M. G. Kucherov (1881) and a number of catalytic reactions described by V. N. Ipatieff beginning with the turn of the century (139b) are widely known examples. S. V. Lebedev studied hydrogenation of olefins and polymerization of diolefins during the period 1908-13. Soon after World War I he developed a process for the conversion of ethanol to butadiene which is commercially used in Russia. This process has been cited as the first example of commercial application of a double catalyst. Lebedev also developed a method for the polymerization of butadiene to synthetic rubber over sodium as a catalyst. Other Russian chemists (I. A. Kondakov I. Ostromyslenskif) were previously or simultaneously active in rubber synthesis. Lebedev s students are now continuing research on catalytic formation of dienes. 

Out of Russia came the patriarchal voice of a prophet of chemistry. There is an element as yet undiscovered. I have named it eka-aluminum. By properties similar to those of the metal aluminum you shall identify it. Seek it, and it will be found. Startling as was this prophecy, the sage of Russia was not through. He predicted another element resembling the element boron. He was even bold enough to state its atomic weight. And before that voice was stilled, it foretold the discovery of a third element whose physical and chemical properties were thoroughly described. No man, not even the Russian himself, had beheld these unknown substances. 

Boron never occurs as a free element but always as a compound. The most common minerals of boron are borax, or sodium borate (Na2B407) kernite (another form of sodium borate) colemanite, or calcium borate (Ca2B< Oii) and ulexite, or sodium calcium borate (NaCaB509). These minerals usually occur as white crystalline deposits in desert areas. As of 2008, Turkey was the largest producer of boron ore. Other major producers of boron materials are Argentina, Chile, Russia, China, Bolivia, and Kazakhstan. Production statistics for the United States were not released in order to protect trade secrets. 

Preparation and Uses. Boric acid can be prepared in the laboratory by acid hydrolysis of a variety of boron compounds, including halides, esters, salts, and hydrides. It is produced commercially by reactions of sulfuric acid with sodium borates in the United States, and with sodium and calcium borates in Turkey. In South America, boric acid is produced by reaction of sulfuric acid with ulexite, a mixed sodium-calcium borate. Boric acid is also produced in Russia from the borosilicate mineral datolite. 

The heavier elements (transactinides), Z=104 (1969) through 106 (1974) were produced in heavy-ion accelerators by bombardment of heavy actinide (plutonium-californium) targets with light ions (carbon, boron, neon, oxygen), so called hot-fiision reactions. The institutions involved in the production of these elements were the LBNL (USA) and the JINR (Russia) (see Ref. 31 for a review). 

Boron is a dark brown element that is widespread in the environment but occurs naturally only in combined form, usually as borax, colemanite (Ca2B60n 5H20),boronatrocal-cite (CaB40yNaB02 8H2O), and boracite (MgyCbBieOso). In the United States, boron deposits in the form of borax are concentrated in the desert areas of southern California, especially near Boron, California. Proven deposits of sodium tetraborates - from which borax is prepared and from which boron can be isolated - also exist in Nevada, Oregon, Turkey, Russia, and China. About 300,000 metric tons of boron are removed from mined ore each year. The United States supplies about 70% of the world boron demand, and Turkey supplies 18% the most common commercial compounds are boric acid and borax. 

Beauvy, M., D. Gosset, and D. Simeone. 2002. Nuclear borides irradiation damages and helium diffusion. In Abstracts of the I4th International Symposium on Boron, Borides and Related Compounds, St. Petersburg, Russia, p. 13. 

Kuznetsov, N. T. 1988. Boron. In Chemical Encyclopedia, ed. I. L. Knunyants, p. 299. Moscow, Russia Soviet Encyclopedia. 

Stantso, V. V. 1983. Boron. In Popular Library for Chemical Elements, 1 (Hydrogen-Palladium), ed. I. V. Petrianov-Sokolov, p. 64. Moscow, Russia Nauka. 

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