Use of microbes to extract and deliver metals from ores

Introduction Isolating a metal from its ore is traditionally performed via smelting, where the ore is chemically reduced under high temperatures. This process works most efficiently in cases such as copper, where there is a high concentration of the metal in its ore, However some metals, such as gold, have low metal content in the ore, which makes traditional methods of refining less economical. Bioleaching, the use of microbes to isolate metals from their ores, does not rely on the concentration of the metal in the ore and may be better suited for refining low-metal ores. Technology description Efficient bioleaching of metals has been made possible by discoveries made at the University of Washington. This invention makes use of microbes that have been engineered to bind specific metals. The invention uses such cells to first bind small metallic particles present in ores and second, utilizing the microbe’s chemotactic properties, deliver the metal to a destination site. This process is not dependant on the metal content of the ore. Business opportunity Many valuable metals exist in low-metal ores and this bioleaching process offers a more economical extraction process compared to traditional methods. Stage of development The inventors are developing prototype microbes specifically targeted to various metals. Intellectual property position

Type of Offer: Licensing



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