Metals and Minerals
BORON
Boron is a strategically important metalloid element valued for its ability to improve strength, thermal resistance, and chemical stability in a wide range of applications. Though used in relatively small amounts, boron has a large impact across industries such as glass manufacturing, agriculture, metallurgy, and energy storage.
Boron is primarily obtained from borate minerals, including borax, ulexite, and kernite, which are mined from sedimentary deposits. After extraction, these are processed into commercially useful forms such as boric acid, boron oxide, and sodium borates. Türkiye holds the world’s largest boron reserves and is a major global supplier.
Key applications include:
Glass and Ceramics: Enhancing heat and chemical resistance in borosilicate glass, fiberglass, and ceramic glazes.
Agriculture: Used as a micronutrient in fertilizers to support plant development and crop productivity.
Metallurgy: Improves steel hardenability and is used in high-strength alloys and magnets.
Energy and Electronics: Found in lithium-ion batteries, nuclear shielding, and semiconductors, supporting modern technology and clean energy systems.
Due to its wide range of applications and high recyclability, boron contributes to sustainability efforts, especially in sectors focused on energy efficiency and durable materials.
Boric Acid, also known as hydrogen borate, is a water-soluble, white crystalline compound with a wide range of industrial, agricultural, and household applications. Recognized for its antiseptic, flame-retardant, and buffering properties, it is one of the most commercially valuable derivatives of boron.
It is typically produced by treating borate minerals like borax or ulexite with sulfuric or hydrochloric acid, followed by crystallization and drying to obtain high-purity boric acid suitable for multiple industries.
Common applications include:
Glass & Ceramics: Enhances thermal resistance and durability in borosilicate glass, fiberglass, and ceramic glazes.
Agriculture: Acts as a boron micronutrient in fertilizers, supporting plant health and crop yields.
Flame Retardants: Used in textiles, plastics, and insulation to improve fire resistance.
Industrial Uses: Serves as a buffer and preservative in lubricants, coolants, and chemical formulations.
Healthcare & Cosmetics: Applied in antiseptics, eye solutions, and skincare for its mild antimicrobial properties.
Pest Control: Functions as a low-toxicity insecticide in managing crawling insects like ants and cockroaches.
Thanks to its recyclability, low toxicity, and role in durable, fire-safe, and energy-efficient products, boric acid supports more sustainable and safe industrial practices when used responsibly.
Boric Acid
Colemanite
Colemanite is a naturally occurring calcium borate mineral and a key raw material in the global boron supply chain. Recognized for its high boron content and thermal stability, it is widely used in industries such as glass production, ceramics, agriculture, and chemical processing.
Mined from borate-rich sedimentary deposits—primarily in Türkiye and the United States—colemanite is processed through crushing, screening, and drying. It can be used directly in industrial applications or further refined into boric acid and other boron compounds.
Main applications include:
Glass & Ceramics: Enhances chemical resistance, clarity, and heat durability in borosilicate glass, fiberglass, and ceramic glazes.
Frits & Enamels: Improves hardness, gloss, and thermal shock resistance in ceramic coatings and enamels.
Fertilizers: Used as a micronutrient source in agriculture to correct boron-deficient soils.
Metallurgy & Fluxes: Acts as a fluxing agent in welding and metal processing.
Chemical Production: Serves as feedstock for boric acid and other boron-based chemicals.
With its natural abundance, low processing footprint, and broad functionality, colemanite supports sustainable manufacturing in both industrial and agricultural sectors.
Commonly known as Penta, Sodium Tetraborate Pentahydrate (Na₂B₄O₇·5H₂O) is a water-soluble, crystalline boron compound widely used in industrial, agricultural, and household applications. As a refined form of natural borax, it offers high boron content, excellent stability, and consistent performance across a variety of sectors.
Penta is produced by refining borate minerals such as tincal and ulexite, followed by controlled crystallization and purification. It is typically supplied in solid form, making it easy to transport and integrate into production processes.
Key applications include:
Glass & Ceramics: Used as a flux to improve thermal resistance and chemical stability in borosilicate glass and glazes.
Detergents & Cleaners: Acts as a pH buffer, water softener, and emulsifier in powdered detergents and industrial cleaning agents.
Agriculture: Serves as a boron source in micronutrient fertilizers, supporting healthy crop development.
Chemical Formulations: Applied in flame retardants, corrosion inhibitors, and industrial additives.
Adhesives & Polymers: Enhances cross-linking in certain adhesives and sealant systems, improving durability and performance.
As a naturally derived and recyclable compound, Penta contributes to sustainability in sectors focused on energy efficiency, crop productivity, and long-lasting materials.
Penta
CHROMIUM
Chromium is a hard, lustrous metal known for its outstanding corrosion resistance, high melting point, and strength when alloyed. As a key material in modern metallurgy, it plays a central role in producing durable, heat-resistant components.
It is primarily sourced from chromite (FeCr₂O₄) and processed into ferrochrome, which serves as the main input in stainless steel and high-performance alloys. About 85% of global chromium is used in stainless steel production, giving it structural strength and resistance to oxidation, critical in construction, transportation, and consumer goods.
Beyond steel, chromium is essential in superalloys for aerospace, electroplating for protective finishes, refractories, and industrial pigments. Its compounds are also used in leather tanning and ceramics.
Although chromium is industrially indispensable, some forms—especially hexavalent chromium—pose environmental and health risks. As such, sustainable sourcing and strict regulatory compliance are critical to ensuring safe and responsible use.
COPPER
Copper is a reddish-gold metal valued for its superior electrical and thermal conductivity, ductility, and resistance to corrosion. As one of the earliest metals used by humans, it continues to be indispensable in modern infrastructure, electronics, and clean energy technologies.
Primarily extracted from sulfide ores such as chalcopyrite, copper is refined through smelting and electrorefining. Recycled copper also contributes significantly to the global supply, enhancing both efficiency and sustainability.
Its largest use is in electrical systems—from household wiring to power grids—thanks to its unmatched conductivity. Copper is also widely applied in construction, transportation, and the renewable energy sector, including wind, solar, and EV technologies. Additionally, it is a key component in alloys such as bronze and brass, used in tools, art, and industrial parts.
Fully recyclable without performance loss, copper supports a circular economy and plays a vital role in enabling the transition to sustainable and energy-efficient systems.
LEAD
Lead is a heavy, malleable metal with excellent corrosion resistance, high density, and a low melting point, making it one of the most widely used non-ferrous metals in industrial applications. It is primarily extracted from galena (PbS) through a combination of crushing, flotation, and smelting. A significant portion of global lead supply also comes from secondary production, especially through the recycling of used lead-acid batteries, making lead one of the most successfully recycled metals worldwide.
Its main application is in the battery industry, particularly for lead-acid batteries used in vehicles, backup power systems, and renewable energy storage. Lead is also utilized in radiation shielding for medical and nuclear facilities, in ammunition, cable sheathing, and in various metal alloys and solders to enhance mechanical properties.
While its use is increasingly regulated due to environmental and health concerns, lead remains a critical material in global industry thanks to its recyclability and essential role in energy and infrastructure sectors.
PHOSPHATE
Phosphate refers to a group of compounds containing the phosphate ion, commonly found in calcium, ammonium, or potassium salts. It is primarily derived from phosphate rock, which is processed into phosphoric acid, the key ingredient in most phosphate-based fertilizers.
Phosphates are vital to agriculture, playing a key role in crop growth, root development, and yield improvement. They are also used in animal feed, detergents, processed foods, and industrial applications such as water treatment and ceramics.
As an essential input in global food production, phosphate supports agricultural sustainability, though responsible sourcing and efficient use are critical to minimizing environmental impact.
Phosphoric acid is a key chemical derived from phosphate rock through thermal or wet-process methods. It is primarily used to manufacture phosphate fertilizers such as MAP (monoammonium phosphate) and DAP (diammonium phosphate), which are crucial for plant nutrition and soil enrichment.
Beyond agriculture, phosphoric acid is utilized in food additives, industrial cleaners, metal treatment, and electronics manufacturing. As a core link in the phosphate value chain, its production efficiency and environmental footprint are central concerns for sustainable industry practices.
Phosphoric Acid
Phosphate Rock
Phosphate rock is a naturally occurring sedimentary or igneous material rich in phosphorus-bearing minerals, primarily apatite. It serves as the primary raw material for the production of phosphoric acid and phosphate-based fertilizers. Mined from deposits around the world, phosphate rock undergoes beneficiation to concentrate the phosphorus content before being processed.
Essential to the global agricultural supply chain, phosphate rock is a finite resource, making efficient extraction and responsible management vital for long-term sustainability in food production.
Zinc is a bluish-white metal known for its exceptional corrosion resistance, strength in alloying, and essential role in a wide range of industrial and chemical processes. As the fourth most consumed metal globally, it is vital in both infrastructure and manufacturing.
Zinc is primarily extracted from sphalerite (ZnS) through a series of steps including roasting, leaching, and electrolysis. Alongside primary production, recycled zinc, from galvanized steel and die-cast alloys, plays a growing role in strengthening supply chain sustainability.
Its largest application is in galvanization, where it protects steel and iron from rust, making it critical in construction, automotive, and infrastructure. Zinc is also widely used in brass and die-cast alloys, chemical compounds for rubber and fertilizers, and is gaining attention in emerging battery technologies like zinc-air and zinc-ion systems.
Highly recyclable and long-lasting in use, zinc supports durability in modern infrastructure and contributes to the shift toward sustainable and energy-efficient technologies.