 Lithium metaborate, lithium tetraborate, or a mixture of both, can be used in borate fusion sample preparation of various samples for analysis by XRF, AAS, ICP-OES, ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Borate fusion and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry with polarized excitation have been used in the analysis of contaminated soils.Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (commonly abbreviated DOT) is used as a wood preservative or fungicide.Zinc borate is used as a flame retardant.