CANBERRA, July 31 (Xinhua) — Researchers in Australia have pioneered a cleaner, more efficient biotechnology with the potential to transform the global recovery of critical and rare earth minerals and metals.
The biomolecule approach, described as decoding a “DNA code” for minerals, uses recyclable peptides for precise, single-step extraction, the Australian Research Council Center of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals (COEMinerals) said on Thursday.
This process cuts waste and environmental harm compared to traditional multi-stage, chemical-heavy methods, said COEMinerals Deputy Director, University of Adelaide Professor Zhao Chunxia, who led the study.
This innovation mimics how cancer-targeting drugs find tumors, using nature’s selective binding molecules to identify peptide matches that fit specific minerals like pieces of “a jigsaw puzzle,” Zhao said.
Initial trials detailed in Advanced Functional Materials, published by Wiley in the United States, showed over 98 percent purity and more than 95 percent recovery for silver, with promising results for rare earths and other strategic metals.
A licensing agreement with Australia’s Theia Metals Pty. Ltd. has been signed to advance commercialization and foster investor and industry collaboration for this technology, according to COEMinerals. ■