On February 26, 2026, Altilium, a UK-based clean technology group, announced the filing of a patent for its proprietary EcoMineral™ hydrometallurgical process and the establishment of ReOre Technologies. The EcoMineral™ technique is a green-chemistry approach designed to recover copper from mine tailings and other unconventional feedstocks by using a biodegradable, near-neutral pH lixiviant. This system operates at ambient pressure and low temperatures, minimizing reagent use, eliminating acidic effluents and enhancing overall safety and cost-efficiency. Its breakdown products are benign and can serve as nutrients in surrounding ecosystems, making the process well suited for in situ leaching where interaction with soils and groundwater is unavoidable.
Developed at Altilium’s ACT1 R&D facility, EcoMineral™ draws on extensive experience in electric-vehicle battery recycling. Initial internal trials focused on the Medet tailings site in Eastern Europe—one of the largest copper tailings resources globally, with roughly 110 million metric tonnes of waste. These tests demonstrated direct copper leaching efficiencies of up to 70%, underscoring the technology’s potential to unlock value from low-grade and legacy tailings previously deemed uneconomic.
Global mine tailings production is estimated at 8 to 10 billion tonnes per year, representing a major underutilized source of copper and other strategic metals. In the UK, copper demand is projected to nearly double by 2035, according to the government’s Critical Mineral Strategy. By transforming mine waste into a critical resource, Altilium aims to support new supply chains for copper and other essential materials, helping to address anticipated shortages while reducing the environmental impact of conventional mining.
ReOre Technologies will lead the commercialization and deployment of the EcoMineral™ platform across a variety of mine tailings and other waste streams. Ongoing screening studies are evaluating the process for additional metals, including nickel, cobalt and manganese. Kamran Mahdavi, CEO of Altilium, emphasized that these initiatives not only help bridge supply gaps for the energy transition but also redefine waste as a strategic asset.
Source: Altilium
