USPTO Patent Grant: Selective Metal Recovery Agent and Method

ChangeBridge: Patent Grants - Biotech (C12N)

Published March 17th, 2026

Detected March 22nd, 2026

Summary

The USPTO has granted patent US12577633B2 to Galdieria Co., Ltd. for an agent and method for selective metal recovery using materials derived from algae or porphyrins. The patent details a process involving adding the agent to a metal solution and then recovering the metal.

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What changed

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted patent US12577633B2 to Galdieria Co., Ltd. The patent covers an agent for selective metal recovery, a related metal recovery method, and a metal elution method. The core innovation involves using materials derived from algae of the order Cyanidiales (dead cells, cell surface layer, or artificial simulations) or porphyrins as the recovery agent. The method includes adding this agent to a metal solution and subsequently recovering the metal.

This patent grant represents a new intellectual property asset for Galdieria Co., Ltd. While not a regulatory rule, it signifies a novel technological development in metal recovery processes. Companies operating in metal extraction, recycling, or environmental remediation may find this technology relevant. No immediate compliance actions are required for other entities, but awareness of this patented technology could influence future R&D or licensing strategies in the biotechnology and materials science sectors.

Source document (simplified)

← USPTO Patent Grants

Agent for selective metal recovery, metal recovery method, and metal elution method

Grant US12577633B2 Kind: B2 Mar 17, 2026

Assignee

Galdieria Co., Ltd.

Inventors

Ayumi Minoda

Abstract

The agent for selective metal recovery of the present invention includes a material derived from an alga belonging to the order Cyanidiales, which is dead cells or a cell surface layer of an alga belonging to the order Cyanidiales, or an artificial material produced by simulating the cell surface layer, or includes a porphyrin. The metal recovery method of the present invention includes an addition step of adding a material derived from an alga belonging to the order Cyanidiales, which is dead cells or a cell surface layer of an alga belonging to the order Cyanidiales, or an artificial material produced by simulating the cell surface layer, or adding a porphyrin, to a metal solution; and a recovery step of recovering a metal from the metal solution by the material derived from an alga belonging to the order Cyanidiales or the porphyrin.