# TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Bioengineered Peptide Platform for Low-Water Critical Mineral Recovery Canonical: https://abierto.us/opportunities/s195398 - Solicitation number: S-195398 - Notice type: Special notice - Status: Closed. Deadline was May 10, 2026 at 7:00 PM EDT - Department: Department of Energy - Contracting office: Triad - DOE Contractor (899015) - NAICS: 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) - Product or service code: AJ11 General Science And Technology R&D Services; General Science And Technology; Basic Research - Place of performance: Los Alamos, New Mexico - County: Los Alamos County (FIPS 35028). https://abierto.us/counties/los-alamos-county-nm-35028 - City: Los Alamos. https://abierto.us/cities/los-alamos-nm-3542320 - First posted: April 23, 2026 - Last posted: April 23, 2026 - SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/b15a457061d0463b961b4f6c260a7f80/view ## Description This Bioengineered Peptide Platform enables selective recovery of high-value critical minerals from dilute and complex process streams using a bioengineered, low-chemical, low-water approach that integrates directly into existing bioleach operations. As demand for critical minerals accelerates across clean energy, electronics and defense sectors, mining operators need more efficient and sustainable enrichment methods. This platform offers a biologically enabled preconcentration step that can unlock value from low-grade ores and complex streams while reducing environmental impact. **The Challenge:** Critical mineral recovery from bioleach and hydrometallurgical circuits faces persistent bottlenecks: High reagent consumption in solvent extraction (SX), ion exchange (IX), and precipitation steps Poor economics at low ppm concentrations, where valuable metals are diluted or masked by competing ions High water usage and secondary waste streams Increasing ESG and regulatory pressure to reduce environmental footprint Growing demand for secure domestic supply of gallium, rare earth elements (REEs), cobalt, nickel and other critical materials Traditional separation technologies are chemical-intensive, multi-stage and inefficient in early-stage or dilute process streams. **Problems Solved:** This technology introduces a bioengineered, low-water preconcentration step that integrates directly into existing bioleach operations. The platform: selectively binds target metals in complex, dilute streams; concentrates them at the liquid surface for physical recovery; reduces reliance on external chemical reagents; and enables earlier-stage enrichment where conventional systems are least efficient. The result is a cleaner, more efficient pathway to recover high-value critical minerals. The platform combines engineered metal-binding peptides designed for high selectivity and cooperative binding to specific critical minerals with self-assembling interfacial proteins (e.g., hydrophobin-based scaffolds) that localize to gas–liquid interfaces. The system is designed as a drop-in module compatible with existing infrastructure. **Key Advantages:** Reduced operating costs through lower reagent consumption Improved recovery from low-grade and dilute streams Lower water use and waste generation Minimal capital disruption via integration with established circuits Platform flexibility across multiple critical minerals Market Applications: Mining & Hydrometallurgical Processing Critical Materials & Strategic Metals Supply Chains Battery & Electrification Materials Semiconductor & Advanced Electronics Materials Industrial Metals Refining & Recycling Environmental & Water Treatment Defense & National Security Supply Chains Development Status: TRL 3 US patent application pending LA-UR-26-23312 LANL Tech Partnerships: Unlock the Innovative Potential Los Alamos National Laboratory offers a wide range of cutting-edge technologies and capabilities that may provide your company with a competitive edge in the market and unlock the innovative potential that can enhance, refine, and revolutionize your products. LANL’s licensing program focuses on moving inventions developed by our researchers to commercial innovations. Patented and patent pending inventions and copyrighted software are available to existing and start-up companies through exclusive and non-exclusive licensing agreements. For specific discussions, please contact licensing@lanl.gov. **Note:** This is not a call for external services for the development of this technology. https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/feynman-center/partner-with-us/licensing-technology m.lanl.gov/tech-search ## Publications - April 23, 2026: Special notice, due May 10, 2026 at 7:00 PM EDT. Notice 22a1a9ba506c4205bfc2e951576d2513. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/22a1a9ba506c4205bfc2e951576d2513/view - April 23, 2026: Special notice, due May 10, 2026 at 7:00 PM EDT. Notice b15a457061d0463b961b4f6c260a7f80. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/b15a457061d0463b961b4f6c260a7f80/view ## Points of contact - Marc Witkowski, licensing@lanl.gov - Lindsay Augustyn, licensing@lanl.gov --- Source: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities bulk extract. Confirm deadlines on SAM.gov before responding. Cite https://abierto.us/opportunities/s195398.