Carollo engineers, INC. New cooperative agreement

The Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded Carollo Engineers Inc. a $3.047 million Cooperative Agreement on May 7, 2026 under the RECOVER (Realize Energy-rich Compound Opportunities Valorizing Extraction from Refuse Waters) program to develop selective recovery of critical metals from produced water using engineered ferritin protein nanocages.

The project aims to recover critical metals directly from produced water, delivering dual environmental and supply-chain benefits: reducing the environmental impacts of wastewater management while strengthening domestic supply chains for strategic resources. Work is performed in Walnut Creek, California, with a period of performance extending through May 6, 2029.

The funding falls under ARPA-E (CFDA 81.135), which supports high-potential, high-impact energy technologies too early for private-sector investment. This award is issued under Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0003510 and carries Control Number 3510-1660.

Project title: selective recovery of critical metals from produced water using engineered ferritin protein nanocages DE-FOA-0003510 - realize energy-rich compound opportunities valorizing extraction from refuse waters (recover) control number 3510-1660 this grant for research and development entitled, ''selective recovery of critical metals from produced water using engineered ferritin protein nanocages" is awarded to carollo engineers, INC. Under arpa-e FOA number DE-FOA-0003510, realize energy-rich compound opportunities valorizing extraction from refuse waters (recover) and control number: 3510-1660. This project aims to develop methods to recover critical metals (CMS) directly from produced water provides a dual benefit: reducing the environmental impacts of wastewater management while strengthening domestic supply chains for strategic resources.