BacTech Environmental and Di-As Partner to Evaluate BACOX® for Gold and Silver Recovery

TORONTO, ONTARIO, September 1, 2026, BacTech Environmental Corporation has entered into a Technical Consulting and Testing Agreement with Di-As Company Ltd. to evaluate the potential application of BacTech’s BACOX® bioleaching technology to historic tailings in the Zyryanovsk district, now Altay City, in East Kazakhstan. This program, funded by Di-As, aims to determine whether BACOX® can effectively recover gold and silver from the tailings, which are estimated to contain significant amounts of these precious metals.

BACOX® utilizes naturally occurring microorganisms to oxidize sulphide minerals, a process that can liberate and recover precious metals while also treating elements like arsenic. The technology is part of BacTech’s broader strategy to develop modern, sustainable methods for reprocessing historic mining materials.

The evaluation will proceed in three stages, allowing both parties to review and validate the technical results before committing to further phases. The first stage involves a site assessment and initial testing to determine the extent of gold associated with sulphide minerals, which could make it refractory to conventional processing. The second stage will conduct bench-scale biological oxidation testing at ALS Laboratories in Perth, Western Australia, to compare BACOX® treatment with direct cyanidation and assess the recovery of gold and silver. The third stage will focus on preliminary engineering and cost studies, considering how a future BACOX® circuit could integrate with Di-As’s new carbon-in-leach (“CIL”) processing infrastructure.

Ross Orr, President and CEO of BacTech, commented, "This is exactly the type of technical challenge we believe BACOX® is well suited to investigate, historic sulphide material containing precious metals that may be difficult to recover through conventional processing alone. It is also the first transaction structured to begin with BACOX®, with Zero Tailings™ potentially to be added once that technology is commercialized."

The program is expected to take approximately 26 to 34 weeks and is estimated to cost between US$350,000 and US$425,000. Di-As’s staged approach aims to ensure that any investment in the technology is well justified through a thorough understanding of the material and process.

While the program does not commit to large-scale development, it represents a significant step towards responsibly reprocessing historic tailings and potentially recovering valuable resources. The results of the evaluation will inform future decisions on whether to proceed with larger-scale projects or to explore other technological applications at the site.

Both BacTech and Di-As are committed to advancing sustainable mining practices and ensuring the responsible management of historic tailings. This collaboration is a testament to their shared vision of modernizing the mining industry through innovative and environmentally conscious solutions.