Across industries such as clean energy, electric vehicles, and advanced technologies, the demand for critical metals has never been greater. Yet, the methods used to extract these metals have often been inefficient and harmful to the environment. New sustainable extraction strategies serve a dual purpose of being both essential to meet increasing material needs as industries develop. As a technological leader, pH7 Technologies Inc. provides innovative extraction solutions that address industry metal requirements while protecting the environment through eco-friendly operations. Through its zero-waste strategy, this company transforms metal extraction processes while advancing electromechanical discoveries toward sustainable metal extraction.
Since its establishment in 2020, pH7 Technologies has become an industry leader through its innovative electrochemical extraction methods, which tackle critical mining sector problems. The Founder and CEO, Mohammad Doostmohammadi, leads the company’s innovative mission through his chemical and mining engineering experience to create a proprietary system that restructures critical metal supply chain management.
Under his executive leadership, pH7 Technologies developed and expanded a groundbreaking mineral extraction process that combines Solvo-metallurgy with Organo-Electrochemical Process to recover metals without creating wastewater, air emissions, or toxic residue. This innovative technique creates a sustainable, environmentally friendly extraction system for metals that will meet escalating demand in key industries, sustaining global economic activity.
Let’s understand how pH7 Technologies revolutionizes metal extraction with sustainable, waste-free electrochemical solutions!
Introducing pH7 Technologies
pH7 Technologies was born out of the recognition that the metal extraction industry was in desperate need of a transformation. Mohammad’s journey toward founding the company stems from his extensive background in chemical and mining engineering, where he had spent over 15 years navigating the complex challenges of wastewater management, mineral processing, and metal extraction. “One of the major challenges I noticed in the metal extraction and critical metal industry was wastewater generation and the processing of tailing ponds,” he explains. “That had been a significant challenge in my previous experiences, so I wanted to find a solution.”
This realization sparked the development of a game-changing technology. What began as an idea to eliminate wastewater in metal extraction soon evolved into a proprietary process capable of revolutionizing the entire industry. “I came up with a metal extraction process that generates no wastewater, which became the driving force behind pH7 Technologies,” says Mohammad. The mission was clear: to increase the supply of critical metals while eliminating wastewater, emissions, and toxic materials—addressing both the environmental and economic challenges facing the mining and recycling industries.
A Journey of Innovation
The journey from concept to commercialization for pH7 Technologies has been a testament to the company’s commitment to R&D and innovation. From humble beginnings, the company has reached significant milestones that have propelled it to the forefront of the electrochemical extraction space.
In 2021, the company achieved a key milestone with the development of its prototype for critical metal extraction—a closed-loop system that would form the backbone of their operations. “We built our prototype for critical metal extraction—a closed-loop metal extraction system,” Mohammad recalls. The system was designed to extract metals with no waste byproducts, using a fully circular process.
By 2022, pH7 scaled the process to a small pilot operation, further refining the technology and testing its efficiency. “We scaled up to a small pilot operation,” he shares. As the company began to generate valuable data from pilot tests, 2023 marked the next step toward success with the expansion of the pilot and the beginning of revenue generation. “We started generating revenue from pilot tests,” he notes.
The culmination of these efforts came in 2024 when pH7 Technologies launched its first commercial plant, focusing on extracting platinum and palladium from end-of-life materials and secondary resources. “We used our pilot operation data to design and commission a commercial site in Q4 2024. The plant now focuses on extracting platinum and palladium from end-of-life materials,” he explains. With a goal of expanding operations further, the company plans to include mining and primary resources by 2025 and beyond.
pH7’s Impact on the Critical Metal Supply Chain
As global demand for renewable energy, electric vehicles, and electrification continues to soar, the need for critical metals such as copper, cobalt, nickel, and platinum has become urgent. However, these metals are finite, and traditional mining operations cannot meet the growing demand without significant environmental costs. Mohammad acknowledges the challenge: “The demand for renewable energy, AI, and electrification is skyrocketing, yet the supply of critical metals remains limited. Mining operations cannot create more metals than what naturally exists in deposits, making these finite resources.”
pH7 Technologies is working tirelessly to bridge the supply-demand gap by focusing on sustainable methods of extraction that reduce waste and encourage a circular economy. Through its proprietary process, the company is making it possible to extract metals from low-grade ores, tailings, and recycled materials, offering an environmentally responsible way to meet global metal demand.
“We are focused on maximizing metal extraction from ores, leaving no waste behind,” Mohammad explains. “By encouraging a circular economy, we extract metals from end-of-life and recycled materials. We are also processing ‘unextractable’ materials that conventional smelting technologies can’t handle,” he continues. The company’s focus on platinum, palladium, and iridium for hydrogen technologies, as well as copper, cobalt, and nickel for electric vehicles, is crucial in ensuring a sustainable supply of critical metals.
The Organo-Electrochemical Process
At the core of pH7 Technologies’ success is its innovative extraction process known as organo-electrochemical, which is a unique combination of organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and electrochemistry. The key to pH7’s technology lies in its ability to extract critical metals while ensuring no waste is produced in the process. “The real innovation is our Organo-Electrochemical Process,” Mohammad explains. “It combines organic chemistry (solvents and ligands), inorganic chemistry, and electrochemistry.”
Unlike traditional extraction methods that rely on harsh chemicals and produce toxic emissions, pH7’s process is designed to be entirely circular. “We developed a closed-loop metal extraction system where chemicals are not consumed but only change phases through different steps. The only consumable in the process is electricity for electrochemical reactions,” Mohammad explains. This novel approach allows pH7 to extract metals without generating wastewater, effluents, or toxic emissions. “No wastewater, no toxic emissions, and no effluents are generated. Chemicals and reagents are reused continuously, making the process fully circular,” Mohammad adds.
This breakthrough has not only revolutionized the efficiency of metal extraction but also significantly improved recovery rates, offering a truly sustainable solution to the mining and recycling industries.
Advancing Green Chemistry & Sustainable Innovation
The global movement toward green chemistry and sustainable industrial practices has gained significant momentum, with industries now focusing on reducing their environmental footprint. “There is a growing global push for clean chemistry and biodegradable processes,” he observes. “Major chemical manufacturers now focus on recyclable chemicals, non-toxic industrial processes, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).” pH7 Technologies is at the heart of this movement, playing a key role in helping the mining industry transition toward more sustainable practices.
pH7’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its innovative approach to eliminating toxic waste and emissions from metal extraction. “We are helping the mining industry eliminate NOx, SOx, and carbon footprints,” Mohammad shares. The company’s work in eliminating tailing ponds and reducing environmental hazards is transforming the industry. “We are working with mining and recycling industries to completely transform mineral processing and metal extraction into an environmentally and economically sustainable industry.”
Leadership and Challenges
Mohammad’s leadership principles are grounded in a strong vision for the future, ensuring that every team member, investor, and partner is aligned with the company’s long-term goals. “Visionary leadership is the most critical aspect,” he states. “At pH7, we ensure that every team member, stakeholder, and investor understands the company’s vision.”
However, pioneering new technology comes with its challenges. “Every day brings new challenges because we are pioneering a completely new technology,” Mohammad admits. Some of the biggest obstacles have included overcoming technical hurdles in scaling up the extraction process, market resistance to adopting disruptive technologies, and securing investors and partners who share the company’s long-term vision. “Some of the biggest challenges include the technical hurdles of scaling a new extraction process and finding partners who believe in our long-term vision,” he adds.
Despite these challenges, the rewards have been significant. “Our small wins—prototype completion, pilot success, commercial plant launch, and revenue generation—keep us going,” Mohammad reflects.
Partnerships and Growth
pH7 Technologies has garnered support from a variety of investors, partners, and industry leaders who believe in the company’s vision. While specifics of the partnerships are often confidential, Mohammad emphasizes the value of these collaborations. “We are fortunate to have supportive investors and board members who believe in our vision,” he notes. “We also have industry partners from mining, recycling, and clean energy sectors, along with government and academic collaborations that drive innovation.”
pH7 Technologies continues to expand its reach, looking for new partnerships and collaborations that align with its mission to create a more sustainable and efficient metal extraction industry. “We are always open to new partnerships that align with our mission,” he shares, adding that the company is committed to bringing together diverse stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of sustainable technologies.
A Vision for a Sustainable Future
As the world continues to grapple with the pressing need for critical metals and sustainable practices, pH7 Technologies is well-positioned to lead the charge in transforming the metal extraction industry. With its innovative technology and commitment to environmental sustainability, the company is setting a new standard for how metals are sourced, processed, and integrated into industries that power the global economy.
“We hope more partners, investors, and industry leaders join us in creating a truly sustainable metal extraction process—one that is both environmentally friendly and economically viable,” Mohammad concludes.
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