Tersa Earth Unveils Scalable Biotech Platform to Recover Critical Minerals from Mine Waste
Date: July 26, 2025
Vancouver, BC – Tersa Earth Innovations has introduced a new model for critical mineral recovery that turns legacy mine waste into a source of clean water and valuable resources. Its TersaClean™ platform, powered by naturally occurring microbes, is designed to treat tailings and acid mine drainage while extracting high-value metals like copper, cobalt, and nickel.
Across North America, thousands of legacy mines continue to leak heavy metals into ecosystems, often requiring decades of chemical treatment and oversight. But research shows these tailings can contain billions of dollars in unrecovered metals, with up to 99% recovery possible using Tersa’s platform in controlled settings.
A Nature-Inspired Approach to Remediation and Recovery
TersaClean™ is a modular, closed-loop bioreactor system that uses microbial processes to extract metals while helping neutralize acid mine drainage. It operates with minimal energy requirements and avoids the use of harsh chemical additives common in traditional treatment.
Key features:
Recovery rates up to 99% for metals like copper, based on field and lab testing
Modular and scalable: early pilots demonstrate throughput from 1,000 to 10,000 m³/day
Supports water neutralization through microbial-induced carbonate precipitation
Designed to reduce operational costs and environmental impacts at legacy mine sites
“Tersa’s platform reframes remediation as a value-generating opportunity,” said Barinder Rasode, CEO of Tersa Earth. “Instead of seeing mine waste as a liability, we’re demonstrating that it can be a secure, sustainable source of critical minerals—while helping restore land and water.”
Industry Recognition and Momentum
Tersa Earth was selected by the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Mining Challenge and has been recognized by Canadian innovation accelerators, including Foresight Canada. The company is collaborating with mining companies such as Newmont and BHP and is advancing toward commercial-scale deployment at select sites.
About Tersa Earth
Tersa Earth transforms industrial waste into valuable resources using patent-protected biotechnology. Its microbial platforms recover metals and neutralize acid mine drainage, offering sustainable solutions to mining companies seeking both ESG improvement and economic return.
Media Contact:
media@tersa.earth
https://www.tersa.earth/press-releases
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