Brendan Smith never intended to enter the world of critical minerals. His initial focus was on creating advanced filters for desalination processes. However, after realizing the competitive landscape, he shifted his efforts in a new direction. Working alongside his advisor, MIT professor Jeffrey Grossman, Smith began exploring the mining industry.
The business of producing critical minerals is far from glamorous. Take, for example, the production of copper. With the world’s current annual usage of 25 million tons, the demand for copper is expected to increase by 24% over the next ten years. However, for every ton of copper ore extracted, a staggering 100-150 tons of waste is left behind.
This excessive waste has led to a major issue for many mines: a lack of space for tailings ponds. These ponds house the toxic chemicals and byproducts leftover after valuable minerals are extracted. And with the open-air exposure to elements like rain and snow, what starts as a manageable problem quickly turns into an endless battle.
For mine operators, waste management is a costly and necessary aspect of the business. But Smith and Grossman’s company, SiTration, has a unique approach. Rather than focusing solely on treating wastewater, SiTration’s equipment also has the capability to extract additional minerals during the process.
“If you can do it efficiently and at a low cost – which we can – then you can not only cover the costs of remediation but even turn a profit,” Smith explained in an interview with TechCrunch.
The key to SiTration’s success lies in the use of silicon. Similar to the material used in computer chips and solar panels, the company’s filters are made from a cheaper grade of silicon. By utilizing a chemical treatment to etch tiny pores into the wafers, the resulting material is more durable than traditional membranes and can last at least three years.
The filtration process works by stacking multiple wafers on top of one another, allowing liquids to flow through. For larger mining sites, SiTration would need the same amount of silicon as a medium-sized solar farm.
Additionally, the use of silicon as a semiconductor allows SiTration to send an electric current through the filters, making them even more effective for a wider range of minerals, such as platinum, lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
While SiTration is currently focused on mining waste and has a pilot project with Rio Tinto, the company is also targeting battery recyclers and metal refiners. In the case of metal refining, SiTration’s filters can eliminate the need for heat and reduce chemical usage by up to 95%.
Smith emphasizes that SiTration’s technology remains fundamentally the same regardless of the industry it sells to, stating “we can ship out the same box to multiple partners and customers.”
To further expand their operations, SiTration has secured an impressive $11.8 million seed round, led by 2150, with investment from Azolla Ventures, BHP Ventures, E14 Fund, Extantia, and Orion Industrial Ventures. With these funds, the company plans to deploy their filtration systems with partners in various industries, potentially leading to early demonstrations for large mining partners and commercial demonstrations for platinum group metal refiners.
