Theia Metals' Vision
Theia MetalsTM was established to commercialise biological discoveries from the fields of medicine and pharmaceuticals into innovative applications for the mining and e-wastes/industrial wastes sectors.
This breakthrough stems from successful research at The University of Adelaide, where biologics - primarily peptides (short chains of amino acids, the fundamental building blocks of life) - have been shown to selectively bind to minerals and metal ions such as silver and rare earth elements like neodymium (Nd) and dysprosium (Dy). These biologics offer the potential to revolutionise metals processing by enabling low-energy, low-emission, and environmentally friendly mineral extraction and metals recovery.
Theia Metals’ proprietary platform makes it possible to design and produce these peptides at low cost, enabling commercial uptake of this technology.
We are currently developing bespoke peptides to target a wide range of metals., starting with separations of neodymium (Nd) and silver (Ag) ions, allowing them to be recovered efficiently, selectively, and sustainably.
Theia Metals aims to deliver the benefits of this next-generation technology to the mining, e-waste sectors and industrial waste sectors, empowering industry with:
New processes driven by selective proprietary reagents
Lower cost of production
Significant ESG advantages
Reduced reliance on harmful acids, solvents, and high-energy inputs
Opportunities to reprocess tailings at known sites
Opportunities to recover REE and precious metals from acid leachates of industrial and e-wastes
By unlocking cost-effective and eco-friendly recovery of critical and strategic metals, Theia Metals is positioned to give Australian miners a competitive edge while contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable resource industry.
Moreover, Theia Metals’ innovation could play a pivotal role in helping Australia establish a sovereign rare earths industry, strengthening national resilience and strategic supply chains for geopolitically sensitive metals.
