Investment in Critical Metals

Investment in Critical Metals Investment in Clean Extraction and Recycling of Critical Metals TDK Corporation (TSE: 6762) announced that TDK Ventures Inc., its corporate venture capital subsidiary, has invested in pH7 Technologies, a specialist in sustainable metal extraction, and co-led its Series A funding round. The chemical process developed by pH7 has the potential to transform metal extraction operations from mining and recycling sources through sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches. The closed-loop metal extraction process in question carries the potential to strengthen the metal transition required to launch next-generation global electrification. The investment executed reflects TDK Ventures' commitment to supporting innovative solutions that could help address global energy transformation by transforming the metal supply chain. Demand for essential minerals and metals ranging from copper, platinum and cobalt to silicon, lanthanum and neodymium is significant, and this demand occupies an important place in modern technologies aimed at accelerating the transition to clean energy. Demand for these essential materials is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, with consumption of some materials projected to increase by as much as 500%. Forecasts point to a shortfall expected to decline by 17% (copper and platinum) and even 47% (neodymium) by 2030 compared to market demand. Many global sectors are seeking ways to address these shortages and reduce risks. However, the process of obtaining and extracting these metals and minerals is typically environmentally harmful, has limited scalability and is problematic due to dynamic geopolitical issues stemming from unequal global distribution. pH7 Technologies has developed a proprietary metal extraction process using non-toxic organic and inorganic chemistry as well as electrochemistry to enable the extraction of metals and critical minerals from ores, concentrates and end-of-life materials. This innovative approach not only reduces the environmental impact of mining and mineral processes but also enables efficient metal extraction from low-grade sources and challenging subsurfaces that are costly and not possible with existing pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical approaches. Nicolas Sauvage, President of TDK Ventures, stated: "TDK Ventures will support pH7 Technologies in its mission to create a more sustainable and efficient metal extraction process. Environmentally friendly metal extraction is a major gain for sustainability; because this process provides a net 95% reduction in CO2 emissions, 95% increase in energy efficiency and near-zero water consumption compared to existing industry standards, while in no way resulting in toxic emissions." Sarah Applebaum, Partner at Pangea Ventures, said: "pH7 Technologies has laid out a forward-looking path for the extraction and refining of critical metals that will enable a transition to renewable energy in a much more sustainable manner. We share pH7's passion for creating a more livable and sustainable planet for future generations and are excited to be part of this project." Mohammad Doostmohammadi, CEO of pH7 Technologies, stated: "Our team is excited to receive support from our co-lead investors TDK Ventures and Pangea Ventures in our sustainable metal extraction process, as well as from other new investors such as Rhapsody Ventures, Collaborative Fund, FM Capital and BASF Venture Capital who will work with us to develop business. We are committed to developing environmentally conscious solutions that address challenges in the metal supply chain, and we believe our technology can help accelerate the global transition to a more sustainable energy future." pH7 Technologies' chemical process is naturally scalable, highly efficient and attracts interest among original equipment manufacturers (OEM), metal refineries and suppliers due to its faster dissolution than acid-based methods. The newly developed mining extraction process provides a practical and low-cost solution to a common problem in the industry, while also offering high environmental sensitivity and proven technical maturity. With its investment in pH7 Technologies, TDK Ventures contributes to a more sustainable metal supply chain that could support global energy transformation. The investment also reflects TDK Ventures' focus on investing in technologies that can have positive impacts on the environment and society. Source