Sunchem Information

Sunchem provides precision separation of critical metals including gold, silver, and copper from sources including e-waste, evaporator scrap, solar panels, and mining ores and concentrates. Compared to incumbent technologies including smelting or cyanide leaching, we recover valuable metals (including from dilute sources or complex mixtures) more economically using less energy and milder chemical conditions. We are continually seeking new partners and electronic waste and scrap suppliers. Founded in 2020, Sunchem was incubated by Activate in collaboration with the Cyclotron Road program at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. We have since been funded by the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, and the California Energy Commission CalSEED program.