Evonik has launched a strategic partnership with the School of Mining at the University of Guanajuato to develop next-generation sustainable and lower-toxicity chemical solutions for the global mining industry.

 

The collaboration will focus on applying Evonik’s biosurfactant technology to help mining companies reduce environmental impact as global demand for critical minerals continues to climb.

 

“As the world’s need for minerals such as copper, silver, gold, iron and rare earth minerals continues to surge, so is the pressure on mines to adopt less toxic and more sustainable materials,” said Raymond Pieternella, Global Segment Head Oilfield & Mining Chemicals at Evonik. 

 

“By working with a leading academic institution, we are driving this shift and enabling our customers to meet both production and environmental goals.”

 

The partnership marks a major step in Evonik’s push to commercialize a new portfolio of sustainable chemistry solutions tailored specifically for mining operations. 

 

By combining the company’s specialty chemical expertise with the university’s deep technical knowledge of mining processes, the alliance aims to improve operational efficiency while cutting the sector’s environmental footprint.

 

The University of Guanajuato brings nearly 300 years of mining heritage to the collaboration, tracing its origins to the early expansion of precious metal mining in the Americas. The institution has long been regarded as a key center for mining research, engineering and technological innovation in Mexico.

 

“The development of mining technologies has been central to our mission since the foundation of this university,” said Martin Caudill Gonzalez, Head of the School of Mines at the University of Guanajuato. 

 

“We are excited to partner with Evonik to continue this legacy while focusing on sustainability and safer chemical processes.”

 

Evonik, which has supplied specialty chemicals to the mining industry for more than four decades, is known for products including Tomamine and Arosurf used in flotation and reverse flotation processes.

 

The company also says it was the first to industrialize large-scale production of sustainable biosurfactants — a breakthrough that has expanded applications from personal care and coatings to mining and oilfield operations.