pH7

High-Level Overview

pH7 Technologies is a cleantech company specializing in sustainable metal extraction from primary ores and secondary resources like e-waste and spent catalysts.[1][3] It develops a proprietary closed-loop organo-electrochemical process that boosts metal recovery—up to 50% higher—while slashing energy use by up to 90% and achieving near-zero carbon emissions and wastewater.[1][3][4] Serving miners, recyclers, and industrial operators (including OEMs), pH7 extracts critical metals like copper, gold, tin, platinum group metals (PGMs), and others essential for energy transition, electrification, and storage.[1][3] The company has commercialized its tech at a Vancouver facility for PGMs from spent catalysts, generates revenue, and is piloting mining applications like heap leaching for oxide, transition, and sulfide ores.[3][4] Backed by $16M Series A in 2023 (led by TDK Ventures and Pangaea) and $25.6M Series B in December 2025, pH7 shows strong growth momentum toward broader commercialization.[1][4]

Origin Story

Founded in 2021 (with some sources noting 2020) in Vancouver, Canada, by CEO Mohammad Doostmohammadi, pH7 emerged from a vision to make the planet more sustainable via cleantech innovations in metal extraction.[1][2] Doostmohammadi leads the company, leveraging expertise in SolvoMetallurgy—a novel branch of extractive metallurgy using organic solvents and electrochemical methods as eco-friendly alternatives to traditional smelting and acid processes.[1][5] Early traction came in 2021 with successful pilots reducing waste and emissions while improving efficiency for PGMs, gold, copper, and tin.[1] By commissioning its first commercial PGM operation from spent catalysts in Vancouver, pH7 validated the tech; a pivotal $16M Series A in March 2023 accelerated scaling.[1][2]

Core Differentiators

• Proprietary Closed-Loop Organo-Electrochemical Process: Replaces high-waste milling and smelting with a scalable system that integrates into existing equipment, enabling on-site recovery from low-grade ores, tailings, and unprocessable materials like e-waste—delivering up to 50% higher yields, 90% less energy, zero wastewater, and near-zero CO2e emissions.[1][3][4]
• Versatility Across Resources: Handles primary mining (heap leaching for copper/gold ores) and secondary recycling (PGMs from catalytic converters), producing hydrogen as a byproduct and matching or exceeding industry recovery rates.[3][4]
• Commercial Readiness and Economics: Revenue-generating with a operational Vancouver plant; pilots advanced for mining; recent $25.6M Series B validates viability for uneconomic feedstocks amid global metal shortages.[3][4]
• Environmental and Operational Edge: Pioneers SolvoMetallurgy for cost-effective, low-impact extraction, empowering clients to meet electrification demands without geopolitical vulnerabilities.[1][5]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

pH7 rides the critical minerals boom driven by electrification, renewable energy, and EV supply chains, where demand for copper, PGMs, and rare metals outstrips supply amid geopolitical tensions and low-grade ore challenges.[1][4] Its timing aligns with global pushes for sovereign supply chains, ESG regulations, and net-zero goals—making low-impact extraction from domestic/low-grade sources viable when traditional mining faces environmental scrutiny and cost barriers.[3][4] Market forces like metal scarcity and energy transition amplify its value; pH7 influences the ecosystem by enabling miners/recyclers to unlock "stranded" resources, reduce reliance on high-emission imports, and produce green hydrogen, potentially reshaping cleantech metallurgy.[1][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

pH7 is poised for rapid expansion post-Series B, shifting from PGM commercialization and mining pilots to full-scale deployments for copper/gold and broader critical metals, targeting on-site production at client sites worldwide.[4] Trends like intensifying mineral shortages, AI/data center electrification, and stricter emissions rules will propel demand for its efficient tech, while partnerships with investors like BHP Ventures and Fine Structure signal ecosystem integration.[4] Its influence could grow by democratizing access to metals, fostering resilient supply chains—ultimately advancing a sustainable planet as envisioned from its founding.[1]