Viridian Biometals uses patented bio‑leaching with metal‑respiring bacteria to extract critical metals from ore at ambient temperature and pressure, eliminating fossil‑fuel combustion, hazardous waste, and freshwater use. The technology delivers metal recovery rates comparable to or higher than traditional methods while reducing costs and environmental impact for mining and mineral processing companies.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Conventional extraction of critical minerals relies on high‑temperature, fossil‑fuel‑intensive processes that generate toxic waste and require large volumes of freshwater. These methods are costly, environmentally damaging, and limit the ability of domestic producers to compete with low‑cost, energy‑intensive incumbents, creating supply‑chain vulnerabilities for essential metals.
Solution
Viridian Biometals applies a patented bio‑leaching platform that uses metal‑respiring bacteria to dissolve and recover metals directly from ore. The bacteria, adapted to low‑oxygen environments, oxidize metal oxides as part of their respiration, enabling efficient extraction without combustion or hazardous chemicals. The process delivers up to three times the profitability of the lowest‑cost traditional methods while eliminating fossil‑fuel use, toxic effluents, and freshwater consumption. Metal recoveries meet or exceed those of conventional refining, allowing customers to process abundant mine waste or deep‑sea deposits with a cleaner, lower‑cost workflow. This biotechnology transforms the processing bottleneck into a competitive advantage for domestic mineral producers.
Target Audience
Primary customers are mining companies, mineral processors, and strategic material suppliers seeking low‑cost, environmentally sustainable extraction solutions for critical metals.
Features
- Patent‑pending bacterial respiration technology that dissolves target metals from diverse ore types
- Process operates at ambient temperature and pressure, removing the need for high‑energy furnaces
- No fossil‑fuel combustion, resulting in zero greenhouse‑gas emissions during extraction
- Generates no hazardous liquid waste and requires no freshwater, reducing environmental impact
- Scalable bioreactor design that can be tuned to specific ore compositions for optimized recovery rates
- Metal recovery yields comparable to or higher than traditional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods