Siderogain Launches Biotech Process for Metal Recovery from Semiconductor Wastewater

Siderogain has launched a biotechnological process to recover critical metals, including gallium, indium, and germanium, from industrial wastewater, particularly in the semiconductor industry. The company, a spin-off from the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, employs a patented biosorption technology utilizing siderophores to selectively bind and recover these metals.

Successful laboratory tests have led to pilot-scale operations with Freiberger Compound Materials, capable of treating up to 2,000 liters of wastewater daily. The project has received support from multiple technology transfer programs, enhancing its development and commercial potential. This process not only aims to reduce import dependency but also enhances the circular economy by treating wastewater as a resource.