Supra Elemental Recovery launches critical mineral recovery platform

Supra Elemental Recovery Inc. has started recovering high-purity critical minerals from industrial waste.
The Austin-based spinout from UT Austin focuses on gallium and scandium, used in semiconductors, aerospace, energy, and defense.
CEO Katie Durham and COO Jordan Sessler aim to make mineral recovery cheaper, faster, and environmentally friendly.

The company uses special polymer cartridges to capture metals from liquids.
These cartridges have receptors inside 3D-printed polymers to improve metal capture, flow, and durability.

As a result, Supra can beat older systems, while also reducing costs and chemical use, making its process more efficient and sustainable.

Supra’s system can use multiple cartridges in a row to recover several elements from different sources.
The method avoids strong acids or toxic chemicals, using new advances in chemistry, materials, and fluid flow.
Early testing includes cobalt, lithium, gallium, scandium, and lanthanides, with plans to scale up.

Commercial strategy and U.S. industrial impact

Supra plans a pilot facility in 2026 to test recovery from multiple sources.
The company will try licensing, toll refining, and fully owned refineries as business models.
Partners include industrial waste producers, metal refiners, and mines looking to recover valuable minerals.

Supra closed a $2 million pre-seed round led by Crucible Capital and the UT Seed Fund.
Investors see the company strengthening U.S. rare earth and critical mineral refining.
By recovering metals domestically, Supra improves supply chain security and U.S. industry strength.

Future outlook for critical mineral recovery

Supra aims to produce semiconductor- and defense-grade gallium and scandium by year-end.
The technology could unlock billions of dollars in value from industrial waste and e-waste.
Supra shows how university research can become practical, market-ready solutions.

SuperMetalPrice Commentary:

Supra Elemental Recovery is a key step toward U.S. independence in critical minerals.
The platform could reduce imports, improve recycling, and secure supply chains.
If successful, it could transform domestic metal production for semiconductors, batteries, and defense.