aurum.bio develops modular technology to recover gold, copper, and other valuable metals from electronic waste. We are making regional urban mining simpler and more accessible.
Electronic waste is one of the world's fastest-growing waste streams, containing valuable critical raw materials that are increasingly important for modern technologies and the clean energy transition.
Only around 22.3%¹ of global electronic waste is collected and recycled, while recovery of valuable materials still largely depends on energy-intensive processes, centralized smelting infrastructure, and hazardous chemicals.
This challenge is particularly significant for regional markets, where access to electronic waste processing infrastructure remains limited. As a result, valuable resources travel further, increasing costs and supply chain complexity.
We are enabling a new model of decentralized urban mining for regional markets.
1 Global E-waste Monitor 2024, UNITAR & ITU
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Most recycling infrastructure is designed for large centralized facilities. We are developing modular technology that simplifies resource recovery from electronic waste, enabling efficient processing at a regional scale.
Copper and other base metals are selectively dissolved and recovered, concentrating the gold and other precious metals in the remaining solid fraction.
// E-waste PCBs contain ~20% copper, classified as a critical and strategic raw material under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA)
Gold and other precious metals are transferred into solution using cyanide-free chemistry. No aqua regia, no high-temperature smelting.
// E-waste PCBs can also contain ~200–400 g of gold per tonne, with concentrations hundreds of times higher than many natural gold ores
Selective gold recovery is being explored through two complementary pathways: low-impact chemical reduction and bio-based selective capture.
// Our goal: 90%+ recovery of high-purity gold without energy-intensive smelting or hazardous chemicals
By combining modular deployment, cyanide-free chemistry, and regional scalability, we aim to strengthen local circular economies and supply chains.
Designed for regional deployment, our modular approach reduces complexity and enables economically attractive metal recovery.
Water Research and Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory at RTU
Department of Chemistry at LU
We welcome conversations with investors, industrial partners, and research organisations interested in building the future of regional urban mining.