Zero Tailings: The Science Behind the Solution
Our patent-pending process combines bioleaching with downstream innovation to recover metals, fertilizers, and construction materials — with zero waste.
How it Works
BacTech’s Zero-Tailings process is a proprietary, environmentally friendly technology designed to remediate mining tailings and waste streams by converting what is normally considered mining residue into a suite of valuable products. It combines bioleaching with downstream processing to extract metals and produce useful by-products while minimizing environmental impact.
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Microorganisms are used to oxidize sulphides in tailings such as pyrrhotite and pyrite. This releases metals like nickel, copper, cobalt, and unlocks iron and sulphur.
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After bioleaching, materials are separated into valuable outputs:
High-purity magnetite or iron feedstocks for green steel.
Base and critical metals (nickel, copper, cobalt, and potentially rare earths or precious metals).
Ammonium sulphate fertilizer created from sulphuric acid streams.
Inert residues repurposed for construction, reducing the need for waste storage.
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Iron and acid streams are treated for reuse instead of being neutralized and discarded, eliminating traditional waste sludge. Process water is cleaned and recycled.
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The process leverages ammonia instead of harsh acids, reducing environmental impact and avoiding the need for energy-intensive smelting or roasting.
Why BacTech’s Process Outperforms Conventional Methods
BacTech Environmental Corporation’s proprietary bioleaching technology delivers clear advantages over traditional mineral processing methods such as Pressure Oxidation (POX) and Roasting. Unlike these high-temperature, high-emission approaches, bioleaching uses naturally occurring bacteria to extract metals in an environmentally responsible, cost-effective, and scalable way—making it a superior solution for processing arsenic-bearing concentrates and tailings.
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Bioleaching (BACOX)
Bioleaching is a water-based process that produces no gas emissions. It stabilizes arsenic and prevents acid mine drainage, making it a safe and environmentally responsible option. Compared to traditional methods, it requires lower capital and operating costs, and its design is both scalable and adaptable to a wide range of mineral processing scenarios.
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Pressure oxidation (POX)
Pressure oxidation requires extremely high pressure and temperature to operate. This makes it energy intensive and expensive, and the need for specialized equipment and infrastructure further drives up costs. As a result, its scalability is limited and often constrained to very specific applications.
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Roasting
Roasting involves heating ores to extremely high temperatures, which in turn releases harmful gases such as sulfur dioxide (SO₂). Managing these emissions requires costly control systems, and the energy demands of the process make it both expensive and environmentally damaging compared to alternatives like bioleaching.
Research
BacTech’s research efforts are strengthened through our ongoing partnership with Mirarco and facilitated by the Ontario Centre of Excellence. This collaboration provides invaluable expertise, ensuring our bioleaching technology continues to advance and adapt to industry needs. Our work has also received financial support from the Ontario government through research grants, underscoring the importance of developing innovative and environmentally responsible solutions for the mining sector.
Partnerships
MIRARCO: BacTech is working closely with MIRARCO to operate a pilot plant in Sudbury, where continuous bioleach operations are being tested and refined. This collaboration provides critical design data and process validation, helping bridge the gap from laboratory results to full-scale commercialization.
Ontario Centre of Excellence: Through the Ontario Centre of Excellence, BacTech benefits from research expertise and technical validation that strengthen the credibility and scalability of its bioleaching technology. This support ensures the process is rigorously tested and aligned with industry standards.
Grant support: Financial support from the Ontario government has played an important role in advancing BacTech’s work. These research grants highlight the provincial commitment to fostering innovative and environmentally responsible mining solutions.
Moving Forward Together
By combining the technical expertise of MIRARCO, the research validation of the Ontario Centre of Excellence, and the financial backing of government programs, BacTech is building a robust foundation for innovation. Together, these partnerships ensure that the Zero Tailings technology continues to evolve, adapt, and scale to meet the changing needs of the global mining industry.
Safety &
Environmental Standards
At the heart of our work is a commitment to doing what’s right—for people, for communities, and for the planet. Every stage of our process is guided by rigorous safety protocols, green chemistry principles, and zero-waste goals that ensure our operations leave behind cleaner ecosystems and healthier futures.
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We design every facility to operate with minimal emissions. Our bioleaching process eliminates the need for smelting or burning, reducing greenhouse gases and airborne pollutants while meeting or exceeding international environmental standards.
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Unlike traditional methods that generate toxic by-products, our process permanently locks arsenic into a stable, non-leachable form. This ensures long-term environmental safety and prevents contamination of soil and waterways.
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Our proprietary technology is rooted in green chemistry—using naturally occurring bacteria and water-based reactions instead of harsh chemicals. The result is a clean, safe, and sustainable way to recover valuable metals without harming surrounding ecosystems.
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We’re committed to circularity. Every output from our process—whether tailings, water, or residue—is evaluated for reuse, repurposing, or safe reintegration into the environment. Our goal is simple: to turn waste into opportunity and pollution into progress.
FROM PILOT VALIDATION TO COMMERCIAL DEPLOYMENT