Mining

Biosurfactant and plant-oil-derived frothers and collectors that replace petroleum-based alcohol, glycol and fatty-acid-derivative reagents in mineral froth flotation, sold by dedicated bio-based specialty-chemical producers (Locus Mining Solutions, Integrity BioChem, Godavari Biorefineries, NAQ Global) to mining operators rather than manufactured in-house by mine sites.

Acidophilic bacteria that oxidize sulfide minerals to release trapped copper, gold and rare earths from mine tailings, paired with hyperaccumulator plants that extract residual metals from contaminated soil and concentrate them into combustible 'bio-ore' — turning legacy mining liabilities into recovered metal and remediated land.

Engineered proteins, fungi, microalgae and bacteria that selectively bind and recover rare earth elements or precious/critical metals from coal ash, mine tailings, industrial waste and e-waste streams — an early-stage, mostly pilot-scale category led by Allonnia, C2RE, BIOWEG, Galdieria and CaptuREE rather than an established commercial industry.