Giraffe Bio Develops Compounds That Increase Copper Recovery Without Opening New Mines

As the risk of a global copper shortage grows, startup Giraffe Bio is developing biomolecules to extract more metal from operating mines. The company creates custom compounds tailored to the mineral composition of each mine. The goal is to increase production without opening new mines. According to forecasts, copper supply could fall 25% short of demand by 2040.

The rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and the expanding use of electricity are increasing demand for copper. The mining industry generally raises production by opening new deposits. However, this process is both expensive and unpredictable. Only 0.3% of potential mining projects succeed. Other biotechnology companies use microbes in ore piles. Giraffe Bio, however, adds ready-made biomolecules directly to an active production process.

According to Giraffe Bio, this technology could increase copper recovery by up to 5%. Even an additional 1% or 2% increase in recovery is considered significant for mining companies. The company has raised an initial investment of $6.4 million (approximately 10.88 million manat) to take the technology from the laboratory to mines. The investment round was led by Orion Industrial Ventures. BHP Ventures, Twynam, Air Capital and Baruch Future Ventures also invested.

The startup does not produce the biomolecules with the help of bacteria directly at the mining site. Specialized microbes are grown in a bioreactor, a production system with controlled conditions. Those microbes produce the required compounds, which are then added to the mine’s production process. This eliminates the need to keep microbes alive under difficult mining conditions.

The compounds are used in a separation process called flotation. During this process, ore is placed in a water bath. Chemicals bring valuable minerals to the surface, while waste sinks to the bottom. Because Giraffe Bio’s compounds bind more precisely to copper, losses are reduced. The company is also developing compounds that bind to undesirable substances such as arsenic and cause them to sink to the bottom.

The technology is not limited to copper and can be tailored to the mineral composition of each mine. The company also plans to use the same method to extract gold and silver. In addition, it wants to replace the toxic chemicals used during flotation with biomolecules. This would allow mines to extract more valuable metal without replacing their existing equipment while reducing environmental harm.