Our Technology
ZalvaTech pairs proprietary, non-living engineered biosorbents with AnkiBind, an AI optimization engine that matches biomaterial formulation and operating conditions to each site's chemistry and geological context.
The result is a low-energy, modular system designed to selectively bind target metals from tailings, low-grade ore, and mine-impacted water, producing cleaner water for reuse, concentrated metal streams for recovery, and reduced-risk residuals that support more credible closure planning.
Proven in the Lab. Validating on Real Tailings Next.
>99% Gold recovery
ZalvaTech demonstrated greater than 99 percent gold recovery under controlled laboratory conditions.
<15 min Capture time
Gold capture was achieved in under 15 minutes under controlled laboratory conditions.
3 × 3 Runs and replicates, fully reproduced
The laboratory result was reproduced across three runs with three replicates.
>25% Higher than conventional recovery methods
The demonstrated laboratory recovery was more than 25 percent higher than conventional recovery methods.
Synthetic gold solution representing tailings leachate, under controlled laboratory conditions. Validation on real tailings and mine-impacted water is underway.
Built for Responsible Recovery
ZalvaTech combines biomaterial recovery, practical deployment, and AI-guided design to support safer, cleaner, and more valuable mining operations.
Resource Recovery
Turn captured metals, gold, copper, nickel, cobalt, Li, REE, and other critical metals, into a monetizable stream, while enabling water reuse.
AI-Optimized Design
AnkiBind matches biosorbent formulation to your site's chemistry before a pilot begins, reducing trial-and-error and shortening the path to a working system.
See how AnkiBind works: https://www.zalvatech.com/ankibind-platform
Practical Deployment
Skid-based modules that integrate with existing treatment trains, metal capture in hours to days, not weeks.
Safety and Reliability
Non-living, biodegradable biosorbents perform consistently, with no live-culture variability, no viability to manage, and stable behaviour across pH and temperature swings.
Stewardship
Reduce long-term water and tailings liabilities with solutions built for the full asset lifecycle, from active operations through closure.
Partnership
Transparent, data-minimal engagement that respects site confidentiality and community expectations.
We Tailor Recovery to the Site, Not the Other Way Around.
Every site has a different chemical profile, operational constraint, and recovery objective. ZalvaTech uses a site-specific process to match biomaterial design, deployment, and learning to real-world mining conditions.
Site Samples and Profile
We evaluate site-specific chemistry: major and minor ions, pH, target metals, competing metals, organics, flow ranges, and relevant geological context.
AnkiBind Optimization
AnkiBind recommends site-specific biosorbent formulations and operating windows, balancing recovery, selectivity, reliability, and cost-performance trade-offs before any physical testing.
Non-Living Biomaterial
Engineered biosorbents bind target metals selectively, with no live culture to maintain and no viability to manage in the field.
Modular Recovery Unit
Skid-based units bind metals in a modular system built for phased scale-up and integration with existing treatment or recovery trains.
Recovered Metals and Outputs
Cleaner water for reuse pathways, concentrated metal streams for recovery, and reduced-risk residuals for improved closure and stewardship outcomes.
Learning Loop
Each tested site sharpens the platform's understanding of chemistry-performance relationships, strengthening future recommendations.
Current Progress
Where We Are Today
ZalvaTech has taken the technology from concept to lab-validated proof in under a year. Gold is our first target metal and our first demonstrated result.
Validated
Selective gold capture in synthetic tailings leachate, greater than 99 percent recovery in under 15 minutes, reproduced across 3 runs × 3 replicates.
Underway
Validation on real tailings and mine-impacted water through collaboration with MIRARCO and NORCAT.
Next
Process development and scale-up through collaboration with Verschuren Centre.
Biological Selectivity, Without Live-Organism Field Complexity.
ZalvaTech keeps the selectivity advantage of biology while removing the operational complexity of deploying live organisms in the field.
Compared with Traditional Biomining
Live microbes are selective but slow, operationally complex in the field, and constrained by rules on introducing non-native organisms.
Our biosorbents are non-living: nothing to keep alive, nothing to contain.
Compared with Chemical Recovery
Faster than biology, but reagent- and energy-intensive.
Our system is low-energy and lower in chemical intensity.
Compared with Conventional Water Treatment
Established and reliable, but the metal value leaves with the waste.
We treat and recover in the same step.
What We Need to Assess Your Site
A first technical screen can begin with limited, non-identifying information. We focus on the chemistry and operating context needed to evaluate recovery potential.
Water Chemistry or Assay Data
Major and minor ions, pH, target metals, and competing metals.
Flow Ranges and Tailings Context
Flow ranges and tailings characterization, where available.
Representative Sample
A representative sample when we move from technical screening to validation.
We work under NDA with the data you're comfortable sharing. An initial technical screen does not require site identification.