AlkaLi Labs engineers hyper-accumulating microbes to extract lithium and other critical minerals from industrial waste streams, utilizing biological direct lithium extraction and CRISPR genome editing for enhanced metal accumulation. This approach addresses the challenge of insufficient domestic mineral supplies by providing a sustainable and low-impact source of lithium from existing oil and gas waste.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
The increasing demand for lithium and other critical minerals needed for green energy technologies is outpacing current supply, while traditional mining methods have significant environmental impact. Existing industrial waste streams, such as produced water from oil and gas operations and acid mine drainage, contain untapped reserves of these minerals but lack efficient and sustainable extraction methods.
Solution
AlkaLi Labs is developing a biomining platform that uses engineered microbial hyperaccumulators to extract lithium and other critical minerals from industrial waste streams. The company leverages biological direct lithium extraction (DLE) in combination with CRISPR genome editing and AI-assisted protein design to enhance the microbes' metal accumulation and selectivity. This technology offers a low-impact, sustainable alternative to traditional mining by enabling the recovery of valuable minerals from dilute and contaminated waste, potentially meeting domestic demand for materials like lithium, rare earth elements, and cobalt. The process utilizes bioprocess engineering with equipment conventionally used in wastewater treatment, allowing for on-site mineral recovery.
Target Audience
AlkaLi Labs targets industry operators who generate mineral-rich waste streams, such as oil and gas companies and mining operations, as well as companies involved in battery production and green energy technologies.
Features
- Engineered microbial strains with enhanced selectivity for lithium and other critical minerals
- Biological direct lithium extraction (DLE) process for efficient mineral recovery from waste streams
- CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to improve microbial salt tolerance and metal accumulation
- AI-assisted protein design to create highly selective transport proteins
- Bioprocess engineering using standard wastewater treatment equipment for on-site processing
- Contaminant management within the microbial system