Korea sends boric acid supplies
16 March 2011
The South Korean government said on 16 March that it is sending boric acid supplies to Japan to use in efforts to stabilise stricken nuclear reactors. Boron is an efficient neutron absorber that can be injected in to the core of a nuclear reactor to inhibit nuclear reactions. It has already been injected into some of the Fukushima reactors, but as it absorbs neutrons the boron is converted into materials that are less efficient at absorbing neutrons. According to Korea's Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE), Japan has asked for the supply of 52.6 tonnes of boric acid, an amount Korea will supply in its entirety from its current domestic reserves of about 309 tonnes.