Biometallurgy

• Metal Recovery: Valorization of primary resources (ores) and secondary resources (urban mining, industrial residues).
• Biological Processes: Mastery of bioleaching, bioreduction, and biosorption using selected microorganisms acclimatized to the treated matrices.
• Environmental Benefit: Drastic reduction of chemical inputs and low-temperature operations (25-50°C).
• R&D Funding: Research center facilitating access to regional aid for your circular economy projects.

In the environmental sector, Meurice R&D explores future solutions for metal recovery. Our biometallurgy laboratory develops ecological and viable alternatives to traditional physicochemical techniques (pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy).

We leverage the natural interactions between certain microorganisms from extreme environments and metals to develop innovative and environmentally friendly recovery processes.

Bioleaching: Biological solubilization of metals

The preliminary and fundamental step in biometallurgy is metal bioleaching. This technique involves the biological solubilization of metals, utilizing the metabolism of chemolithotrophic bacteria and archaea.

Our team masters extraction strategies based on the products of this bacterial metabolism:

• The production of biosourced sulfuric acid.
• The production of oxidizing or reducing agents (these first two pathways being inseparable in our research).
• The use of complexing agents.

These microorganisms, generally acidophilic, require extreme pH conditions for their growth. Our laboratory has the infrastructure to cultivate, monitor, and optimize the activity of these specific strains.

Valorization of industrial residues and urban mining

The ecological transition requires us to rethink our resource management. The use of an alternative and biological hydrometallurgy allows for the exploitation of new metal sources where conventional methods become too costly or polluting:

• • Secondary Resources: Recovery of metals from industrial residues, slags, or the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (urban mining valorization).
  • Primary Resources: Treatment of low-grade ores whose conventional exploitation is no longer profitable.
  • Complementary Techniques: Beyond leaching, we study bioreduction, biosorption, and bioprecipitation to extract and concentrate elements of interest.

The economic and ecological advantages of bioprocesses

The shift to biometallurgy represents a major competitive asset for the recycling and metallurgy industries:

• Low Energy Consumption: Unlike pyrometallurgy or hydrometallurgy processes, our applications operate at atmospheric pressure and low temperatures (between 25°C and 50°C).
• Reduction of Chemical Products: Microbiology helps reduce hazardous chemical inputs, thereby limiting the overall environmental impact of the treatment.

Support and funding

Integrating biometallurgy into your processes fully aligns with the circular economy objectives supported by public authorities. As a recognized research center, Meurice R&D facilitates the funding of your R&D project:

• Brussels-Capital Region: Possibility of using Innovation Vouchers (up to 75% cost coverage for SMEs).
• Walloon Region: Eligibility for Technology Vouchers (coverage from 50%).
• Collaborative Projects: Preparation of applications for regional or European project calls.

Important note: Access to these aids is subject to your company’s eligibility criteria and the availability of regional budgets at the time of application. If these mechanisms are not applicable, we develop your projects through direct subcontracting with strict confidentiality management.