Cleaner metal recovery starts with better separation chemistry.
BioMetalix is developing protein-based separation reagents that capture valuable metals from water and concentrate them through ion flotation. Our platform is designed to reduce reliance on organic solvents, lower waste generation, and improve recovery from dilute and complex material streams.
Selective metal capture powered by protein chemistry
BioMetalix develops protein–ligand conjugates, or PLCs, that selectively capture valuable metals from water.
PLCs are created by modifying naturally foaming proteins with metal-binding molecules; the protein provides the physical properties for foam separation, while the ligand provides affinity for metals. Capture: The PLC binds selected dissolved metals. Float: Air bubbles transport the metal–PLC complex to the surface. Concentrate: The complex is collected in a smaller foamate volume. Recover: The metal is released and the PLC is regenerated for potential reuse. This platform is being developed for integration with industrial foam-fractionation and dissolved-air-flotation systems.
Applications
BioMetalix focuses on rare-earth-element recycling and early-stage enrichment for critical-mineral processing, while evaluating additional aqueous metal-recovery opportunities.
Current Focus
Rare-earth recycling: Concentrating and separating rare-earth elements recovered from permanent magnets, electronics, and other secondary feedstocks.
Current Focus
Critical-mineral processing: Providing an early-stage enrichment step that could reduce the volume and complexity of material sent to downstream purification.
Future platform opportunities
Mining and mineral-processing water: These applications are currently being evaluated for future feasibility.
Future platform opportunities
Industrial wastewater containing recoverable metals: Evaluating potential for capture from diverse liquid waste streams.
Future platform opportunities
Coal ash and mine-waste leachates: Under assessment as a potential growth pathway for our recovery technology.
Future platform opportunities
Battery and electronic-material recycling; Precious and transition-metal recovery: Applications we are exploring for future development.
Bench-scale results and validation
>95% – Eu purity
Europium purity from an approximately 1:1 Eu/La starting mixture. Results shown are from controlled bench-scale experiments; industrial performance will depend on feed composition and operating conditions.
12 – Bench-scale Eu/La separation factor
Bench-scale Eu/La separation factor. Performance in industrial feedstocks will depend on feed composition and specific operating conditions.
0.5 M NaCl – Selective enrichment
Selective enrichment demonstrated under high-salt conditions. Results shown are from controlled bench-scale experiments.