Seloxium Raises £6 Million Seed-Round to Accelerate the Commercialisation of Metal Purification Technology
Investment co-led by Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE) and MKS PAMP, a global leader in the precious metals industry, will drive the deployment of Seloxium’s novel approach in extracting critical metals from industrial waste.
ARC Oxford based Seloxium Ltd., a metals recovery spin-out from the University of Oxford, has secured a £6 million seed round investment to support the commercialisation of its propriety Selectal™ technology which offers a selective, fast and robust pathway to extract critical and valuable metals – such as platinum-group metals, rare earth elements, and gold – from difficult to treat industrial and mining wastes.
As a spin-out from the University of Oxford, the company is built on pioneering research that enables the sustainable extraction of critical metals while also preventing toxic metals from entering the wider environment, as a fraction of the usual carbon footprint.
Each year, vast quantities of valuable metals are lost through industrial processes and not effectively recycled. Accumulates losses of previous metals during waster management and recycling are estimated at 30,000 tons, according to Nature Sustainability. This equates to more than $10 billion worth of metals discarded from electronic waste along. In addition, it is estimated that more than $3.4 trillion of critical and valuable metals are locked up in mine tailings, the recovery of which Seloxium is developing using it’s fast, selective and low capex process. Extraction of critical metals from waste circumvents traditional mining and extraction methods which come with high financial and environmental costs, with over 25 tons of CO2 emitted for every kilogram of platinum-group metals mined.
Seloxium’s propriety Selectal™ technology provides industries with an efficient and scalable solution for extracting high-purity metals from complex waste streams. By extracting these metals directly from industrial waste streams, Seloxium provides higher recovery rates, with a faster process, at lower cost – helping industries reduce waste, comply with regulations, and secure sustainable suppliers of essential materials.
The funding round was co-led by Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE) and MKS PAMP, a global leader in the precious metals industry, alongside the University of Oxford and new and existing angel investors who bring expertise and strategic guidance to Seloxium.
Dr Christian Peters, Director & CEO of Seloxium, said: “This investment marks a transformational moment for Seloxium. With our novel technology, waste can be an asset rather than a liability. Instead of these metals being lost of discharged into the environment, we recover them cost-effectively, offering a sustainable and circular pathway for industries that depend on them. With the backing of OSE, MKS PAMP, and our investors, we can further scale our technology and accelerate commercial deployment.”
“Our continued investment in Seloxium reflects our commitment to advancing technology that looks to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges,” said George Todd, Senior Associate, Deep Tech at Oxford Science Enterprises. “The global economy depends on critical metals for everything from clean energy to advanced manufacturing, yet access to these material is increasingly constrained. Seloxium’s innovative approach to metal recovery realises economic value while strengthening supply chains and supporting global sustainability practices.”
Tarek Shakarchi, Head of Strategic Opportunities at MKS PAMP, commented: “We are thrilled to support Seloxium in its mission to redefine how critical metals are recovered and refined. This partnership aligns with our commitment to advancing sustainable solutions in the previous metals industry. With our deep expertise in refining and market access, we look forward to contributing to Seloxium’s growth, enhancing its capabilities, and helping unlock new opportunities for this transformative technology in key critical markets.”
Paul Smith, angel investor and previous Head of Strategy at Glencore, says “Energy Reach Partners are delighted to have been part of Seloxium’s successful fundraising. There is a tremendous need to improve the efficiency with which critical minerals are processed in the West. Seloxium’s technology provides compelling solutions to address this enormous market opportunity. We look forward to Seloxium’s future success led by Christian and this team.
Seloxium’s ARC Oxford R&D base provides access to leading scientises and fosters collaborations within the Oxford ecosystem. Meanwhile, its new Teesside facility, based at the Wilton Centre, is designed to scale up commercial operations. In addition to the £6 million investment, Seloxium has secured funding through three UK Innovate grants, further supporting the development and deployment of its metal purification technology.
Seloxium moved to ARC Oxford in 2024, joining the campus’ growing roster of leading science and tech organisations including: Oxford Biomedica (manufacturer of the AstraZeneca covid vaccine), FluoRok (a company identifying more sustainable methods of fluorination), MiroBio (developing antibody drugs for autoimmune disorders), and Ivy Farm (leading the UK’s cultivated meat revolution).
