How one startup is using probiotics to try and ease the copper shortage

As the global economy continues to expand, the demand for copper—a crucial mineral used in technologies ranging from data centers to electric vehicles—is on the rise. Projections indicate that without significant changes, the world may encounter a copper shortage as early as 2040, with demand potentially outstripping supply by 25%. This looming crisis has prompted companies and investors to invest heavily in the copper sector. For instance, the AI-focused startup KoBold recently secured $537 million to tap into a copper deposit in Zambia. However, one innovative startup, Transition Metal Solutions, believes it has found a groundbreaking solution to enhance copper production. By utilizing additives to optimize the performance of microbes, the company claims it can increase copper recovery rates by 20% to 30%. This approach is likened to using probiotics to enhance the efficacy of copper mining processes. Transition Metal Solutions has successfully raised $6 million in seed funding, with Transition Ventures leading the investment round, supported by a variety of venture firms including Astor Management AG and Dolby Family Ventures. The role of microbes in copper extraction is not new; they have been instrumental in breaking down ores to extract pure metal. Yet, according to co-founder and CEO Sasha Milshteyn, traditional methods have often fallen short. Instead of focusing on isolating and engineering specific strains of microbes, Transition Metal Solutions takes a more holistic approach. Milshteyn notes that previous attempts at boosting copper production have sometimes yielded only temporary results or none at all. He argues that this is due to the complex interactions within microbial communities, where a single strain cannot perform optimally without support from others. Research has shown that over 90% of microbes present in ore heaps are still unknown to science, making it challenging to replicate their natural conditions in a laboratory setting. Transition is addressing this by applying low-cost, inorganic compounds commonly found at mining sites to enhance the overall microbial community rather than focusing on individual species. In laboratory tests, the proprietary treatment developed by Transition has demonstrated the ability to extract up to 90% of copper from ore, a significant increase compared to traditional methods that typically yield only 30% to 60%. While outside lab conditions might see slightly reduced efficacy, Milshteyn is optimistic that they can achieve extraction rates of at least 50% to 70% in real-world applications. Recognizing that each mine has a distinct microbial ecosystem, Transition plans to customize its additives based on initial assessments. As the company collects more data, Milshteyn anticipates that they will be able to predict the specific needs of various mines, paving the way for their probiotic-like solutions to potentially mitigate the upcoming copper shortage. Before scaling, Transition must validate its methods through third-party testing, which is a crucial step in gaining acceptance within the industry. The seed funding will support this phase, leading to a demonstration project where their technology will be applied to a large heap of copper ore. Milshteyn emphasizes the importance of maximizing extraction, stating, "We’re leaving 65% of material behind at typical mines. We may as well get as much out of it as we can."