CICE awards pH7 Technologies $1 million to enhance copper recovery and on-site hydrogen production.
pH7 Technologies, the inventor of a proprietary closed-loop critical metals extraction process that yields near-zero emissions while producing green hydrogen, is thrilled to announce it has been awarded $1 million in funding from the B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE).
pH7 will use the CICE funding to further advance the application of its proprietary technology at its Lower Mainland, B.C., pilot plant to enable heap leaching process for the extraction of copper from low-grade sulfide ores while producing on-site green hydrogen.
Heap leaching is used at mine sites with oxide ores to extract metals, including copper, from ore. The process involves spraying an acidic solution onto ore to dissolve the copper into a solution from oxide ores. Copper is then recovered from the solution through further processing. Heap leaching is one of the most environmentally and economically sustainable mining extraction processes; however, its application is limited to oxide ores only.
pH7’s proprietary process enables heap leaching for sulfide ores, which accounts for more than 80% of copper deposits around the world. Applying pH7’s technology to copper heap-leaching is expected to significantly reduce energy, CO2 emission, and water usage, yield near-zero chemical waste, enhance the economy and increase the mining revenue by recovering copper from lower-than-cut-off grade ores. Additionally, pH7 Technologies’ heap-leaching process produces green hydrogen on-site, which can be used as an energy source for mine operations and machinery.
Mohammad Doostmohammadi, pH7 Technologies founder and CEO, said:
CICE’s significant investment supports the continuing advancement of pH7’s patent-pending technology and its applications for sustainable and efficient metal extraction process.
“We are grateful to CICE for its confidence in our technology and potential.”
Sarah Goodman, CICE President and CEO, said:
British Columbia is home to a quarter of Canada’s clean tech companies.
“We are pleased to award $1 million to pH7 Technologies to support its clean technology solutions for copper extraction and continuing growth.”
pH7 Technologies is dedicated to developing and commercializing metal extraction technologies that contribute to a sustainable future.
With $24 million invested in 36 groundbreaking clean energy and climate projects valued at over $145 million, CICE is British Columbia’s largest early-stage climate investor.
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CICE awards pH7 Technologies $1 million to enhance copper recovery and on-site hydrogen production. source
