Microbes used by Endolith utilize Olympic-caliber levels of copper to combat global copper shortages
Copper’s Critical Role in the Energy Transition
As the world continues its transition away from fossil fuels, copper is playing an increasingly important role. This versatile metal is a crucial conductor of electricity, used in everything from electric vehicles to wind turbines. However, by the end of the decade, the International Energy Agency (IEA) expects copper supplies to fall 20% short of demand.
Stealthy Startup Aims to Fill the Gap
In response to this looming shortage, a stealthily operating startup called Endolith is developing innovative technology to help miners extract more copper from their mines. Based in Colorado, Endolith is turning to microbes as the solution to this challenge.
The Current State of Copper Recovery
Today, most copper is recovered using hydrometallurgy, which involves pouring acid on piles of rock to strip out some portion of the copper. While effective, this process has limitations, and only about half of the available copper is typically recovered from a mine’s rock. Endolith aims to change this by supplementing the traditional method with domesticated microbes that can boost the amount of copper that leaches out of the pile.
The Science Behind Endolith’s Approach
Endolith’s approach involves studying the conditions within a particular mine’s heap leach, as the pile is known. After taking samples from various parts of the pile, the startup inoculates the samples with microbes it thinks might be well-suited to the environment. Then, the most promising candidates are accelerated in the lab by exposing them to increasingly stressful conditions such as high arsenic or salty water, depending on the conditions of the heap.
The Result: Olympic-Caliber Microbes
"We are turning normal microbes into Olympic-caliber athletes," Endolith’s founder and CEO, Liz Dennett, said. With a PhD in geomicrobiology, Dennett has a deep understanding of the complex relationships between microbes, rocks, and metals. Her team is using this knowledge to create a community of microbes that can liberate more copper from the rock.
The Evolution of Endolith
Dennett previously led Cemvita, a company that uses microbes to transform waste into more valuable materials. When she was asked by her board to evaluate the biomining group within Cemvita, she saw an opportunity to spin out a new company focused on copper and lithium extraction. Last year, Endolith was born as an independent entity, and Dennett began fundraising.
A $5.13 Million Seed Round
In an oversubscribed seed round led by Collaborative Fund and Overture, with participation from Grok Ventures, Nomadic Venture Partners, and Nucleus Capital, Endolith raised $5.13 million. "We got a term sheet in six weeks," Dennett said, adding that the round closed in about three months. Cemvita remains a minor stakeholder in Endolith.
Focusing on Copper and Lithium
One of the key differentiators of Endolith is its focus on copper and lithium extraction. By concentrating on these two critical metals, the company can develop more targeted solutions for miners looking to increase their yields. This focused approach also allows Endolith to build a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between microbes, rocks, and metals.
The Future of Copper Extraction
As the world’s demand for copper continues to grow, companies like Endolith are working tirelessly to find new ways to extract this critical metal from the earth. With its innovative use of microbes, Endolith is poised to play a key role in filling the looming supply gap and supporting the transition to a more sustainable energy future.
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