News & Press Releases of the year 2017
Sorting the wheat from the chaff: Poster prize for research into flotation
In earlier centuries, raw materials were literally hacked out of the rock. The process is vividly described in the miners’ anthem, the Steigerlied. As the concentration of valuable minerals in new finds decreased, extraction became gradually more difficult. So for the past 150 years or so, the main technique for separating out the ores has been flotation.
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Professor Markus Reuter awarded honorary doctorate by Stellenbosch University
In a degree ceremony held today (08/12/17) at Stellenbosch University, Markus Reuter is to be awarded an honorary PhD in Engineering for his outstanding scientific and technological contribution to the production and recycling of metals, as well as his exceptional role in the practical implementation of academic research. Since 2015, the metallurgy and recycling expert has been Director at the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and Honorary Professor for System-Integrated Material Production at TU Bergakademie Freiberg.
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Bernhard von Cotta Prize awarded to Dr Max Frenzel
At the annual general meeting of the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg on 1st December 2017, Dr Max Frenzel was awarded the 2017 Bernhard von Cotta Prize. The scientist, who is currently engaged in research at the University of Adelaide in Australia, was honored for the outstanding work he did as part of his dissertation at the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) and at the Institute of Mineralogy of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg.
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Neue Vortragsreihe in Freiberg über die Energiewende: Auftakt am 5.12.2017, 17 Uhr, Helmholtz-Institut Freiberg für Ressourcentechnologie
Die Energiewende verändert den Rohstoffbedarf nicht nur in Deutschland erheblich. Um welche Ressourcen es dabei geht, wofür diese gebraucht werden und wie die steigende Nachfrage gedeckt werden kann, beleuchten Experten aus Gesellschaft, Industrie und Forschung in einer Reihe von Fachvorträgen am Helmholtz-Institut Freiberg für Ressourcentechnologie (HIF), das zum Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf gehört. Der erste Vortrag beginnt am 5. Dezember 2017 um 17 Uhr. Dr. Volker Steinbach, Vizepräsident der Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, erläutert die Auswirkungen der Energiewende auf den zukünftigen Rohstoffverbrauch.
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Alternative energy sources likely to increase demand for critical metals
If a raw material is in short supply, this can adversely affect entire industries. This is why the last decade has seen large-scale investment into research on high-tech metals, the supply of which is deemed to be at risk, and which are therefore considered critical. Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF), part of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, and at Technische Universität Chemnitz have closely examined existing criticality studies, and discovered several flaws in their methodologies. They are calling for a reassessment of which materials are to be designated as ‘critical’. This could lead to the inclusion of copper, iron, aluminium and other classic industrial metals in revised lists of critical raw materials.
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The future of raw materials exploration in Europe: New EU project establishes reference areas for trialling new technology in three countries – Germany, Finland and Spain
Europe is about to become more attractive for the exploration of raw materials. Partners drawn from research and industry plan to develop innovative, non-invasive technologies and test them under realistic conditions. For this purpose, three European reference areas are to be established in Germany (Geyer), Finland (Sakatti) and Spain (Minas de Riotinto, Gerena). To this end, the EU is investing around 5.6 million euros over the next three years in INFACT, a new research project in which 17 partners from seven countries have joined forces. The project is being coordinated by the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf.
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Einblicke in den Untergrund des Erzgebirges: Forscher präsentieren Ergebnisse der Rohstofferkundung am 9.11.2017 in Geyer – Einladung an die Medien
Seit 2013 testen Wissenschaftler aus dem Helmholtz-Institut Freiberg für Ressourcentechnologie (HIF) am Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf zusammen mit Partnern im Erzgebirge neue Methoden, um schonend Rohstoffe zu erkunden. Ihre Ergebnisse stellen sie am Donnerstag, 9.11.2017, um 17 Uhr im Huthaus an der Binge in Geyer vor. Das HIF lädt die interessierte Öffentlichkeit und Medienvertreter dazu ein.
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Recovering rare earth ores in Vietnam: Guest scientist at HIF
Since last year HIF researchers have been contributing their infrastructures and know-how to the development of a rare earth deposit in the north-west of Vietnam. Prof. Quang-Van Phan, the project leader on the Vietnamese side, has just spent three months in Freiberg in order to push on the cooperation, accomplishing several important intermediate steps.
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Innovations in raw material processing and recycling: Poster awards for HIF researchers
HIF staff members have lately been successful with presenting their research at various conferences. Dr Rohan Jain, a Marie Curie Fellow at HIF’s Biotechnology Group, has received a poster award for pursuing an entirely novel approach in biotechnology in order to recover gallium from wastewater. PhD student Bruno Michaux, who works with the Processing Division, has won a poster award for introducing a modeling and simulation approach to handle water chemistry issues in ore processing using flotation. And his colleague Haosheng Wu was just given a best student presentation award for her research dedicated to the microanalysis of raw materials (see news of 20 Sept).
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Microanalysis of raw materials: Best student poster award
Haosheng Wu, a PhD student at Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF), won a best student presentation award at the 21st International Conference on Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS). Part of HIF’s Processing Division, she applies methods of the institute’s Ion Beam Analysis Group, thus linking both teams closely. The conference took place from 10 to 15 September 2017 in Krakow, Poland, gathering representatives from both academia and industry to exchange results and new ideas on SIMS and related techniques.
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A different approach to networking – First-ever HIF science slam
Around 120 researchers, technicians and administrative staff are currently employed at HIF, which operates three different sites in Freiberg and Dresden. As a matter of fact, hardly any team member will know all the others. But how can the networking and scientific exchange be facilitated? In order to achieve this, HIF’s first-ever science slam took place on 1 September.
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Innovativ und rohstoffeffizient?
Das Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie verleiht für herausragendes Engagement im Bereich der Rohstoffeffizienz den Deutschen Rohstoffeffizienz-Preis.
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A mobile extraction plant for recycling of copper and indium
There is as yet no commercially viable method of salvaging all valuable metals from the dust generated during the production of copper and zinc. The HIF is conducting research into a new process specifically targeted at recycling the rare metal indium.
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German research network GERRI growing
The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), a subordinate to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), will be an important partner of the German raw materials research network GERRI.
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Electronics recycling and its environmental footprint: The “Fairphone” example
In Germany, less than half of electronics waste is recollected again. Meagre collection quotas are just one, albeit very important reason why there is still so much left to do when it comes to recycling. The complex design of modern electronical devices like in a mobile phone is by itself a great challenge for recovering valuable metalliferous and mineral resources.
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Explore, analyze and process raw materials
Freiberg’s terra mineralia exhibition is offering a new series of summer workshops for anyone interested in exploring, analyzing raw materials and enriching minerals; the series is being conducted in cooperation with the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF), part of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, and other partners. All raw materials enthusiasts aged 12 and over are welcome to take part. The first workshop takes place on Wednesday 28th June 2017.
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Paper award for PhD student
For presenting his results obtained by Mineral Liberation Analysis, Duong Huu Hoang, scientific assistant at TU Bergakademie Freiberg and HIF, was awarded the first prize of the “Metallurgy, Physical and Chemical Technologies of Hydrocarbons Treatment” section at the Annual Conference for Young Researchers in Saint Petersburg.
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EU supports innovation and sustainable mineral exploration
The Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF), which is part of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, will receive a grant of approximately €900,000 over the next three years to support the development of new technologies for the environmentally and socially sustainable as well as efficient exploration of natural resources. The EU funding will be made available by EIT RawMaterials, which is supported by the European Insitute of Innovation and Technology, and has already been earmarked for three new projects. The researchers are seeking to advance drone-based exploration and other innovative exploration methods.
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Copper mining with bioactive substances derived from bacteria
Chile is one of the most important suppliers of copper to German industry. Within the framework of the scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries, research is now being pursued into how Chilean copper ores can be extracted in a more environmentally sustainable way. Bioactive substances derived from bacteria may replace or reduce chemicals. A further aim is to increase metal yield while extracting metals that are traditionally difficult to separate out, in particular the molybdenum content. The joint project between Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) – part of HZDR – and the Advanced Mining and Technology Center at the Universidad de Chile in Santiago de Chile began in February.
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Rohstoffversorgung für Zukunftstechnologien mit Expertise aus Deutschland sichern
Am 7. März 2017 findet der „German Day“ bereits zum fünften Mal auf der weltweit größten Bergbau- und Explorationsmesse, der PDAC International Convention, Trade Show & Investors Exchange, in Toronto, Kanada statt. Die Veranstaltung bietet deutschen Unternehmen eine Plattform, um ihre Expertise und ihr Know-How im Bereich Bergbau und Exploration internationalen Partnern zu präsentieren. Der diesjährige „German Day“ steht unter dem Titel „Future of Mining: German Canadian Forum on trends in exploration technologies, productivity improvements and digital innovation”.
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Future raw materials experts from all over the world attend winter school in Freiberg
The youngsters attending the Winter Business School (9th - 27th January 2017) come from Brazil, Colombia, China and India as well as many other parts of the world and have already graduated in subjects such as Geology, Mineral Engineering, Physics and Chemistry. They are united by a desire to identify solutions to the challenges faced by the raw materials industry and to obtain a European Master’s in Georesources Engineering. This includes a three-week winter school in Freiberg, Saxony. 18 students from the course are taking part.
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Raw material exploration 2.0
There are many known ore deposits on Greenland, but also many sites that are difficult to reach. An innovative ‘toolbox’ based on drone-borne methods as well as specialised computer software could soon make the exploration of raw materials significantly easier. Researchers from Freiberg are hereby collaborating with the Geological Research Institute of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS).
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URL of this article
https://www.hzdr.de/db/Cms?pOid=66013