Welcome to Impetra Metals
Refining Metals with Biology
ABOUT US
Impetra Metals is a biomining company under contract with two of the world's largest manganese mining firms. Impetra Metals’ patent-pending process utilizes naturally occurring bacteria to extract manganese from normally inaccessible ores and mine tailings. Our technology has platform potential across three critical minerals. The company is initially targeting manganese, a $28 billion market.
The technology is proven at a lab scale, with a microplant in operation for over two years. Over the next year, Impetra Metals’ patent-pending process will be scaled to commercial demonstration for manganese. The process has low capital costs and relies only on the reducing bacteria, without reagents or chemical washes.
THE PROBLEM
There are billions of dollars' worth of material in mine tailings that are not economically accessible using traditional methods. Mining companies recognize the value in their waste. Traditional mining processes are capital and carbon-intensive, and companies must operate only in places where high-grade ores are available.
THE SOLUTION
Impetra Metals unlocks value from mine tailings and low-grade ores through a naturally occurring community of microbes. We utilize this natural process to create industrial material critical to the green transition. The Impetra Metals system is simple and scalable. It mimics natural ecosystems, relies on the same principles as proven commercial technology, and operates in ambient environmental conditions.
MEET THE TEAM
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Founder & CEOFrank is the CEO of Impetra Metals. He holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins, has years of experience in environmental engineering, and has held management roles in Fortune 200 companies.
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Chief Technology OfficerDr. Eisele has worked extensively in minerals processing and extractive metallurgy. He began working with metal-reducing microorganisms in 2004, leading to the development of the Impetra Metals process, which began in 2020.
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Engineering ManagerPalas is a 2025 PhD graduate who has worked with this process for many years.
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Founding EngineerNeha is a PhD graduate who contributed to the early development of the Impetra Metals Process.