HZDR Research Talks

The HZDR Research Talks usually take place on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

The next dates are:

June 23, 2021 "The importance of understanding Technetium environmental chemistry - research at Institue of Resource Ecology"

by Dr. Natalia Mayordomo Herranz (Surface Processes)

Technetium (Tc) is a radioactive element, 99-Tc being its most abundant isotope. 99-Tc is mainly generated by anthropogenic sources like nuclear power plants, nuclear weapon detonations (99-Tc is the fission product of 235-U and 239-Pu), and hospitals due to its use in radiodiagnostics (99-Tc is the daughter of 99m-Tc). The emission of 99-Tc is of environmental concern since it is a b- emitter with a long life time (0.213 million years) and a high mobility in groundwater under oxic conditions. Therefore, a deep understanding of the environmental behavior of Tc is crucial to ensure a safe Tc storage in a nuclear waste repository and the protection of the environment.

The environmental behavior of Tc, its bioavailability, and its mobility in groundwater are ruled by environmental conditions like redox conditions, pH, presence of ions or minerals, and temperature among others. The knowledge about basic Tc chemistry helps to identify and understand the environmental conditions under which Tc migration is limited. Additionally, it allows for the development of possible Tc scavengers for remediation of polluted sites. At the Institute of Resource Ecology (IRE) we study Tc immobilization by various natural materials such as pyrite (FeS₂) and materials found in nuclear waste repositories, such as green rust (Fe(II)-Fe(III) hydroxide). To answer the question, how Tc interacts with these materials, we employ a multitude of experimental techniques including X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and geochemical modeling approaches. This allows us to obtain an in-depth understanding of Tc chemistry, which can be used to develop and improve Tc scavengers and to build a safe nuclear waste repository.

The HDZR Research Talks are a program for HZDR employees of all research fields. Within this framework, scientists give lectures on current projects, methods and procedures and look forward to exchanging ideas with colleagues in order to jointly develop ideas and initiate projects. The Research Talks are also open to external interested parties.

• Lectures and discussions are held in English.
• Participation is free of charge.
• Registration is not required. External visitors need to check in at the HZDR main entrance 30 min in advance.

Initiator:
Dr. Franziska Lederer (Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Dept. Biotechnology)
Phone: +49 351 260 2427
E-Mail: f.lederer@hzdr.de

Co-organizers:
Dr. Kristof Zarschler (Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dept. Radionuclide Theragnostics)
Phone: +49 351 260 3678
E-Mail: k.zarschler@hzdr.de

Dr. Peter Zahn (Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Dept. Scaling Phenomena)
Phone: +49 351 260 3121
E-Mail: p.zahn@hzdr.de

Dr. Björn Drobot (Institute of Resource Ecology, Dept. Biogeochemistry)
Phone: +49 351 260 2759
E-Mail: b.drobot@hzdr.de

Dr. Sandra Hamann (Research Programmes and International Projects)
Phone: +49 351 260 3649
E-Mail: s.hamann@hzdr.de

Past lectures:

• Dr. Sascha Heitkam (Transport processes at interfaces) "Radiographic methods for foam and froth flow" PW:RTHeitkam
• Dr. Toni Helm (Strongly Correlated Electron Systems) "Slice them right - Experiments on FIB-patterned quantum materials under challenging conditions." PW:RTHelm
• Dr. René Hübner (Structural Analysis) "Transmission electron microscopy for the characterization of nanoscale materials"
• Dr. Nina Elkina (IT - Infrastructure) "HPC and Numerics at HZDR" PW:RTElkina
• Dr. Michael Bussmann (CASUS) "The Digitalization of Science: Are we there, yet?" PW:RTBussmann
• Dr. Katerina Falk (Institute of Radiation Physics, High Energy Density) "Ultra-fast x-ray probing of astrophysical plasmas" PW: RTFalk
• Dr. Richard Gloaguen (Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Exploration): "From satellites to drones: imaging Earth with innovative technologies"
• Dr. Josefine Metzkes-Ng (Institute of Radiation Physics, Application-oriented Laser-plasma Accelerators):  "Laser-driven ion accelerators for applications in radiobiology"
• Dr. Sebastian Reinecke (Institute of Fluid Dynamics, Experimental Thermal Fluid Dynamics): "Methods for more efficiency in water resource recovery"
  
• Dr. Björn Drobot (Institute of Resource Ecology, Biogeochemistry): "What we can learn from the ’f’ in f-elements"
• Dr. Dominik Kraus ( Institute of Radiation Physics, Helmholtz Young Investigator Group High Energy Density): "Warm dense matter: investigating planets and stars in the laboratory"
• Dr. Yordan Georgiev (Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Transport Phenomena in Nanostructures, Head of Nanofabrication): "Ultra sensitive biosensors based on the simplest possible field effect transistor"
• Dr. Matthias Streller (Communication & Media Relations): "The DeltaX student laboratory – a place of research and education"
• Prof. Dr. Heidemarie Schmidt (Institute for Solid State Physics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena): "Adhesion of biomolecules to a CHIP using surface-near electrostatic forces"
• Dr. Elke Beyreuther (Institute of Radiation Physics, Laser Particle Acceleration): "Radiobiological effect dependencies on proton beam quality revealed by zebrafish embryo"
• Dr. Nicole Matschiavelli (Institute of Resource Ecology, Biogeochemistry): "The disposal of high-level radioactive waste – some microbial issues"
• Dr. Kristof Zarschler (Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Radionuclide Theragnostics): "How to make a radiolabeled protein: a story of protein expression, functionalization and characterization"
• Dr. Gregor Hlawacek (Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Ion Induced Nanostructures): "Helium Ion Microscopy for biological samples: Achievments and Challenges"
• Dr. Franziska Lederer (Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Biotechnology): "Development of biological tools for the recycling of electronic scrap"