Manufacturing microorganisms for biomining
Microorganisms can support the recovery of valuable metals from mineral materials. Turning biological potential into a commercially viable process requires a manufacturing route capable of producing microorganisms consistently and at the volumes needed for development, scale-up and deployment. Zymofix’s Zyft platform can unlock micro-organisms that can play an important role in biomining and bioleaching.
Zymofix supports biomining developers with microbial manufacturing designed around the needs of industrial microorganisms, from process development through to commercial production.
Meeting the demands of biomining
Microorganisms used in biomining need to scale effectively to perform reliably at the industrial scale demanded by full-scale processes for consistent metal recovery. Zymofix opens this beyond what has been previously possible. Zyft has been developed around these manufacturing challenges. Process development, substrate composition and fermentation conditions are tailored to each microorganism. By integrating fermentation and formulation, the production substrate remains part of the final product, helping support microorganism viability throughout production and application.
01
Novel strains
Many site-adapted microorganisms have no established cultivation protocol, so media, substrates and conditions must be developed strain by strain.
02
From discovery to production
Promising strains can be identified quickly, but producing them reliably at the volumes needed for testing and deployment is often the bottleneck.
03
Viability in demanding environments
Microorganisms must remain viable through transport, storage and application before performing under conditions such as low pH and high metal concentrations.
04
Industrial scale-up
Moving from laboratory studies to commercial operations requires reliable, consistent manufacturing at larger volumes.
Supporting different biomining applications
Zymofix applies Zyft as a manufacturing route for microorganisms used in biomining, bioleaching and metal recovery. Potential applications include:
Bioleaching
Producing microorganisms used to support the extraction of metals from ores, concentrates and other mineral materials.
Pseudomonas metallosolvens
Application: Recovery of gold and other precious metals through biological leaching.
BioGold™
PX Precinox, BRAIN Biotech & Zymofix are scaling up a bioleaching process using Candidatus Pseudomonas metallosolvens to recover gold and other precious metals. Developed by BRAIN Biotech and manufactured using Zyft, the strain combines high metal tolerance with biological cyanide production and is currently being demonstrated in a pilot-scale unit in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
Recovery from secondary materials
Producing microorganisms used in the recovery of metals from tailings, residues and other secondary resources.
Application: Recovery of valuable metals from secondary mineral resources through microbial processing.
Mine rehabilitation
Microorganisms used to support soil restoration and revegetation following mining operations through biostimulant and biocontrol applications.
Application: Supporting soil regeneration and vegetation establishment on rehabilitated mining land.
Exploring a microbial route for metal recovery?
Whether you’re developing a new product or looking to improve an existing manufacturing process, we’d be happy to discuss your project and assess how Zyft could support your production requirements.