Uses custom microbial communities and a cloud-native platform to optimize copper and lithium extraction from low-grade ores and challenging deposits. By tailoring biolixiviants and continuously monitoring microbial activity in real-time, the technology increases recovery rates, reduces sulfuric acid use, and minimizes the environmental impact of mining operations.
Funding
$5.3M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Traditional methods of extracting copper and lithium from low-grade ores often involve energy-intensive processes and the use of large quantities of sulfuric acid, leading to high operational costs and significant environmental impact. These methods can also struggle to efficiently recover valuable minerals from challenging deposits.
Solution
Endolith employs custom-designed microbial communities and a cloud-based platform to optimize the extraction of copper and lithium from low-grade ores and other difficult-to-process deposits. By tailoring biolixiviants to specific ore compositions and continuously monitoring microbial activity in real-time, the technology enhances mineral recovery rates while reducing the need for harsh chemicals. The platform analyzes the genomic makeup of ore and heap leach operations to create tailored microbial solutions. This approach offers a lower-energy, more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional chemical and energy-intensive extraction processes.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes mining companies seeking to improve the efficiency and sustainability of their copper and lithium extraction processes, particularly those working with low-grade ores or challenging deposits.
Features
- Custom biolixiviants tailored to specific ore compositions for optimized mineral recovery.
- Adaptive biohatcheries that analyze ore genomics to create targeted microbial solutions.
- Real-time monitoring and adjustment of microbial activity via a cloud-native platform.
- Selective removal of carbonates before leaching to reduce sulfuric acid consumption.
- Enhanced recovery rates from low-grade ores and challenging deposits.
- Lower-energy and more sustainable alternative to traditional extraction methods.