Contact

Prof. Dr. Jens Gutzmer (PhD ZA)
Director
Phone: +49 351 260 - 4400

PD Dr. Simone Raatz
Administrative Manager
Phone: +49 351 260 - 4747

Anne-Kristin Jentzsch
Press Officer
Phone: +49 351 260 - 4429

Vanessa Weitzel
Secretary
Phone: +49 351 260 - 4404

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Research

The Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) is investigating and developing new technologies for securing the supply of the German economy with strategically important metalliferous raw materials. We are dealing with primary and secondary resources from domestic and international deposits. Our focus is on the whole value-added chain of raw materials with the following main research topics:


Raw materials exploration and characterization

The global shift from fossil hydrocarbons to a net-zero economy requires the use of minerals and metals at an unprecedented scale. To increase the resource and energy efficiency of raw materials supply as part of a Circular Economy we look at the role of exploration and characterization of minerals and metals from primary and secondary resources.


Resource and energy efficient process technologies

The current energy transition presents a unique challenge for the metals and mining sector. The vast quantity of raw materials required for the transition must be provided more efficiently and sustainable than ever before. At a time when ore grades decrease and waste streams become increasingly complex, innovative process technologies are key to unlocking the untapped resource potential of complex ores, tailings, electronic waste and many other material streams. To tackle this challenge, we develop resource and energy efficient process technologies.


System Assessment

A sustainable raw materials production requires a holistic approach to analyze and evaluate current and new technologies. We use our detailed understanding of raw materials composition and microstructure to predict more reliable recovery rates and optimum processing parameters; select optimal energy and resource efficient processing routes; predict the economic feasibility of new deposits; and develop near zero-waste mining concepts to minimize environmental footprint and increase social acceptance. We also develop models of single processes and routes to evaluate efficiency, impact, and optimization potentials of any novel technology.