Blog

<blockquote>An Examination, Solution, and Transformative Strategy to Replace Mercury and Cyanide Salts in Artisanal Small-Scale Mining (ASM): Southern Ecuador</blockquote>Authors: Bruce A. Cosgrove &amp; Moreno-Chavez, J.,| Environmental Chemistry eJournal | January 31, 2025 |&nbsp;DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5049829&nbsp;&nbsp;Manipueira, the liquid byproduct of cassava (Manihot esculenta) processing, contains cyanogenic glycosides—primarily linamarin—which hydrolyze to release hydrogen cyanide under aqueous conditions. &nbsp;This study evaluates Manipueira as a functional natural lixiviant for gold mobilization in artisanal mining systems, providing a viable alternative to mercury amalgamation and synthetic cyanide salts. &nbsp;When applied within controlled processing frameworks, this plant-derived system enables targeted gold dissolution while reducing toxic exposure and environmental contamination. The four-stage ESG-aligned framework developed for the Portovelo–Zaruma Mining District, Ecuador, demonstrates a scalable pathway for implementation. &nbsp;👉 These results demonstrate how <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/mercury-free-botanical-extraction" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/mercury-free-botanical-extraction">botanical extraction systems</a> can be applied to controlled mineral processing for efficient, low-toxicity gold recovery → &nbsp;The complete article with references can be accessed here 👉&nbsp;<a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications">An Examination, Solution, and Transformative Strategy to Replace Mercury and Cyanide Salts in Artisanal Small-Scale Mining (ASM): Southern Ecuador</a> →&nbsp;### Scientific InterpretationThis analysis aligns with a broader botanical extraction systems framework, where plant-derived compounds are structured and applied to interact with chemical environments and remove, bind, or mobilize target materials.👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/botanical-systems-science" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/botanical-systems-science">Compound Interaction Systems</a> →&nbsp; 👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications">Published Research</a> →

Cassava-derived Lixiviant: Sustainable Gold Recovery Using Manipueira

<h3>Introduction</h3>Bruce A. Cosgrove, MSc. | Independent Scientific Researcher, November 06, 2025An estimated 15–20 million artisanal and small-scale gold miners produce 20–25% of global gold supply, valued at approximately USD $30 billion annually, largely through mercury-based extraction methods (UNEP Global Mercury Partnership, 2023). &nbsp;Mercury exposure presents severe risks to human health. As a potent neurotoxin, it affects neurological, immune, digestive, and endocrine systems, contributing to conditions such as memory loss, tremors, neuromuscular impairment, and long-term cognitive decline (WHO, 2024). &nbsp;Environmental impacts are equally significant. Mercury released during processing enters air and water systems, where it is converted into methylmercury, accumulating in ecosystems and food chains and affecting biodiversity and human populations alike. &nbsp;👉 These conditions highlight the need for b<a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/mercury-free-botanical-extraction" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/mercury-free-botanical-extraction">otanical extraction systems</a> capable of eliminating mercury use while maintaining efficient gold recovery in artisanal mining environments → &nbsp;Manipueira Gold Recovery Technology introduces a four-stage ESG-aligned strategy designed to replace mercury and synthetic cyanide systems with a plant-based alternative that enables safer, faster, and more sustainable gold recovery. &nbsp;Full references and supporting research are provided in the complete presentation accessed here 👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications">Four-stage ESG aligned transformative strategy Action Plan</a> →### Scientific InterpretationThis analysis aligns with a broader botanical extraction systems framework, where plant-derived compounds are structured and applied to interact with chemical environments and remove, bind, or mobilize target materials.👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/botanical-systems-science" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/botanical-systems-science">Compound Interaction Systems</a>&nbsp;→&nbsp; 👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications">Peer-reviewed Work</a> →

Mercury-Free Gold Mining: Health, Environmental, and Biodiversity Impacts of Mercury Use

<h3>"How America Got Hooked on Ultraprocessed Foods"</h3>New York Times | By: Jessica Attie - October 25, 2025Humans have processed food for millennia—from fire-cooked meat to ground grains and preserved goods. By the late 1800s, industrial food production introduced formulations fundamentally different from traditional preparation methods. &nbsp;Coca-Cola (1886), Jell-O (1897), and Crisco (1911) marked the early transition, followed by highly engineered products such as Spam, Velveeta, Kraft Mac &amp; Cheese, and Oreos. By the mid-20th century, increasing workforce participation and time constraints accelerated reliance on industrial food systems. &nbsp;In the 1950s and ’60s, more women began working outside of the home but were still expected to feed their families.<h3>1970s-1990s - An Ultraprocessed Food Explosion</h3>This shift reflects a fundamental change in how food is structured, moving away from whole botanical inputs toward highly engineered formulations designed for stability, palatability, and scale.👉 These patterns are directly addressed within <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/botanical-systems-formulations" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/botanical-systems-formulations">botanical formulation systems</a> that aim to restore metabolic balance through structured plant-based inputs →The complete article can be accessed here 👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/blog-independent-referenced-articles" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/blog-independent-referenced-articles">How America Got Hooked on Ultraprocessed Foods</a> →### Scientific InterpretationThese findings are not isolated observations but part of a broader botanical formulation systems framework, where compound interaction, delivery mechanisms, and physiological response are evaluated as integrated systems rather than individual variables.👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/botanical-systems-science" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/botanical-systems-science">Compound Interaction Systems </a>→ 👉 <a data-mce-href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications" href="https://bruceacosgrove.com/scientific-publications">Technical Research Papers</a> →

Ultra-Processed Foods and Health Risk: Scientific Evidence and Trends

BACosgrove Scientific Researcher, Inc.

The Company is a science-driven research and innovation incorporated Company advancing sustainable chemistry, environmental health solutions, and clean-technology applications. Founded by chemist and entrepreneur Bruce A. Cosgrove, the company develops and validates evidence-based alternatives that reduce toxic exposures while supporting circular-economy and ESG-aligned outcomes across industrial and wellness sectors.

Applied Botanical Systems Research and Scientific Articles

Cassava-derived Lixiviant: Sustainable Gold Recovery Usin...

Mercury-Free Gold Mining: Health, Environmental, and Biod...

Ultra-Processed Foods and Health Risk: Scientific Evidenc...