A new spinout, RemePhy, aims to revolutionise the way we address soil contamination, one of the world's most critical environmental challenges.
RemePhy's innovative phytoremediation technology uses plants to remove heavy metal pollutants from soil, allowing land contaminated by mining to be restored for agriculture, housing, or environmental rewilding.
Its patented technology harnesses the natural symbiosis between plants and soil bacteria to enhance heavy metal extraction from contaminated soils, working up to 17 times more efficiently than conventional phytoremediation methods. The harvested plants can also be processed to recover valuable metals and recycle biomass, supporting the circular economy.
Phytoremediation and phytomining
In addition to remediation, RemePhy's technology can be used in a technique known as phytomining to extract critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt, magnesium, and manganese, helping close gaps in the supply chain of materials needed for the clean energy transition.
Potential partnerships with other Imperial spinouts, such as the waste biomass processing company Lixea, offer opportunities to scale and expand these solutions further.
From lab to real-world solutions
RemePhy was founded using Imperial research by PhD graduates Dr Franklin Keck in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Dr Ion Ioannou in the Department of Chemistry, in collaboration with Professors Karen Polizzi, Jason Hallett and Paul Fennell.
The team has been supported by Cambridge Future Tech, a venture builder that provides hands-on support to scientists and entrepreneurs aiming to create innovative deep technology startups.
Dr Franklin Keck, CEO of RemePhy, said: "We are excited to bring RemePhy's technology to market. By providing a sustainable solution for heavy metal contamination, we aim to unlock the potential of polluted land for agriculture, housing, and rewilding, contributing to a greener and more resilient future."
Soil contamination is a significant global challenge, with industrial activities like mining polluting over 15 billion tonnes of soil each year. RemePhy's sustainable solution accelerates land restoration for agriculture, enables the safe redevelopment of industrial sites, and facilitates metal recovery for the mining industry and strengthens the critical mineral supply chain.
Owen Thompson, CEO and co-founder of Cambridge Future Tech, said: "Franklin and Ion's innovative approach to sustainable soil remediation, combined with Imperial's scientific excellence and our venture-building expertise, perfectly positions RemePhy to tackle this pressing global challenge. We are proud to support their journey in bringing this groundbreaking technology to market."
Innovation ecosystem
RemePhy is among hundreds of Imperial spinouts and startup companies working to translate advanced research into world-changing innovations.
By integrating academic expertise, innovating within industrial and economic systems, and fostering partnerships, RemePhy is embracing convergence science. Professor Mary Ryan
The university has recently opened Imperial Global hubs in countries such as the US and Ghana that could benefit from RemePhy's technology. It has also launched a $150m centre with mining company Rio Tinto to find sustainable ways to extract minerals needed for the energy transition.
Imperial is pioneering an approach called convergence science that sees deeply integrated interdisciplinary research and innovation focused on real-world challenges. It is soon to open four new Schools of Convergence Science in areas that include sustainability.
Professor Mary Ryan, Vice Provost (Research and Enterprise) at Imperial College London, said: "To make a meaningful impact on real-world challenges like clean energy and sustainable agriculture, convergence science is crucial. By integrating expertise across science and engineering, seeking innovative ways to embed technical solutions within industrial and economic systems, and fostering cross-sector partnerships, RemePhy is embracing the convergence science approach. I'm excited to see what the team achieves next."
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Article by Grace Mills at Cambridge Future Tech with contributions by David Silverman.
