Biometallurgy

A subfield of biotechnology that uses living organisms—like bacteria, fungi, or plants—to extract, concentrate, and process metals from ores, tailings, or electronic waste. Also called "bioleaching" or "phytomining," it's a greener alternative to smelting. Certain microbes can oxidize metals, making them soluble for recovery, while some plants ("hyperaccumulators") can draw metals like nickel or gold from soil into their tissues, which are then harvested and incinerated to yield "bio-ore."

Example: Using Biometallurgy to recover copper from low-grade ore dumps by sprinkling them with an acid-loving bacteria (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans) that leaches the metal into a solution for collection. Or, planting fields of a specific fern to clean arsenic from contaminated soil and then harvesting the metal-rich fronds.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 3, 2026