As AI infrastructure and electrification accelerate, copper demand is projected to outstrip supply by 25% by 2040.
Mining startup Giraffe Bio is addressing this using biotechnology to synthesize molecules that enhance the ore flotation process.
By replacing toxic chemicals and potentially increasing recovery rates by 5%, their approach offers a look at how software-driven materials science and biotech are being applied to heavy industry infrastructure.
Startup Giraffe Bio is developing a new method for recovering larger quantities of copper, using specially designed chemical molecules. The company claims that its application can increase copper recovery by up to 5%.
How the method works
Instead of using living microorganisms directly inside mines, a process that is technically difficult, Giraffe Bio uses biotechnology to produce chemical molecules in a laboratory environment.
These molecules are introduced into the ore flotation process, which helps separate the copper from the rest of the rock. At the same time, the company is developing molecules that act as “suppressors,” allowing the removal of unwanted substances, such as arsenic. This method also aims to replace toxic chemicals commonly used in mining.
Financing and next steps
Giraffe Bio recently secured $6,4 million in a funding round led by Orion Industrial Ventures. The funding also included BHP Ventures, Twynam, Air Capital and Baruch Future Ventures. While the technology focuses on copper, the company says its method can be adapted to recover gold and silver in the future.
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