Martin Van Den Berghe, CEO of Cytochrome, along with Jayme Feyhl-Buska and Paul Reginato of Homeworld Collective, delve into the potential of biology in mining and enhanced rock weathering by bridging the gap between academia and industry.

Mineral dissolution in enhanced rock weathering (ERW) and mining technologies

Rock dissolution has been a fundamental mechanism in maintaining Earth's livability over billions of years. Natural rock weathering, often referred to as 'Earth's thermostat,' plays a crucial role in regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide and providing essential nutrients for life. Additionally, rock dissolution processes have supported human societies by enabling metal extraction through mining and hydrometallurgy.

Recently, there has been a focus on accelerating rock dissolution for carbon capture and storage applications and sustainable mining. Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) technologies aim to increase the fraction of CO2 emissions offset by weathering to combat climate change. Accelerating mineral dissolution in hydrometallurgy is vital for meeting the growing demand for critical minerals in the energy transition.

Biological processes accelerate mineral dissolution

Research has shown that certain microbes have evolved to enhance rock dissolution, either for nutrient acquisition or as a byproduct of their metabolic processes. Advances in synthetic biology and genomics now allow for genetic engineering of microbes to improve rock dissolution technologies and industrial processes significantly.

The potential of biology in mining and ERW

Biologically-enhanced metal recovery techniques can make processing ores more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Genetic engineering can facilitate the selective recovery of rare earth elements, eliminating the need for expensive solvents. In ERW, microbes can secrete metal-scavenging molecules to accelerate rock dissolution and enhance carbon capture and storage.

Academic-industry gaps inhibit progress

Despite promising biological solutions, there is a disconnect between academic research and industry implementation. Knowledge of microbe-mineral interactions often remains within academic circles, hindering the adoption of transformative biological technologies in industrial settings.

Integrating geobiology into ERW and mining innovation is crucial for developing viable technologies for climate change mitigation and the energy transition. Building connections through structured discourse and knowledge transfer can bridge the gap between academia and industry.

Community building and research tools to enable R&D

Efforts to facilitate collaboration between geobiologists and industry professionals are essential for advancing research and development in the field. Establishing platforms for sharing research problems, funding projects, and developing tools for technology validation can drive innovation in biomining and ERW.

Investing in R&D facilities and institutions that support technology validation in industrial contexts is key to transforming early-stage concepts into high-value assets. Incubators focused on climate technologies and sustainable mining can foster cutting-edge R&D to meet global environmental goals.