Kunin develops vertically integrated ion‑exchange technology to extract critical minerals from mining waste and by‑product streams in the United States. Their modular, pre‑assembled skids use proven resin ligands and automated controls to retrofit existing mines, enabling customized recovery of metals such as lithium and rare earths while reducing costs through scalable manufacturing.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
U.S. mining operations generate large volumes of waste and by‑product streams that contain valuable critical minerals, but existing extraction methods are costly, bulky, and not easily integrated into existing sites. This leaves over $3 trillion of mineral resources untapped and creates reliance on foreign supply chains.
Solution
Kunin delivers a vertically integrated ion‑exchange platform that extracts critical minerals directly from mining waste and by‑product streams. The company designs custom recovery systems based on decades‑old resin chemistry, optimized for mass transport in a compact, skid‑mounted form factor. Fully pre‑assembled modules incorporate automated process controls, enabling rapid retrofitting of existing mines without extensive civil work. After pilot‑scale validation, Kunin scales production of these modules to achieve cost reductions similar to a lithium‑ion battery learning curve. The approach allows U.S. producers to reclaim valuable metals domestically, reducing supply‑chain vulnerability.
Target Audience
Primary customers are owners and operators of existing mines and processing facilities that produce mineral waste or by‑product streams, as well as companies seeking to monetize those streams domestically.
Features
- Custom‑engineered ion‑exchange resin beads with proven field performance since the 1940s
- Prefabricated, skid‑mounted modules that plug into existing plant infrastructure
- Automated control systems for continuous operation and minimal operator intervention
- Scalable manufacturing process that drives down module cost as volume increases
- Ability to target a wide range of critical minerals found as by‑products in diverse ore streams