The HIF presents at Dresden Science Night

• When: June 30, 2023; 5 - 12 pm
• Where: HTW Dresden, Friedrich-List-Platz 1, 01069 Dresden
• Event Website

Once a year, Dresden's universities, non-university research institutions and science-related companies open their doors to the public. Throughout the city, a wide variety of formats invite visitors to experience science and technology, research and innovation, art and culture up close. From 17:00-00:00, a colourful programme of lectures, experiments, guided tours and participatory shows awaits all those interested. Students, families, senior citizens and, of course, the little researchers of tomorrow are invited, in short: all night owls who want to experience research interactively and expand their own knowledge.

The HIF will present at HTW Dresden with the following program:

• The good in the pot, the bad in the potty: A proven process for extracting minerals from finely ground ore is flotation. It uses the surface properties of particles to separate different minerals from one another. In this way, raw materials that have already been used can be recycled and returned to the economic cycle. We will demonstrate to you at our pilot plant how exactly all this works.
• From straw to gold? Resources in waste - a case for biology: Biomolecules, bacteria and other microorganisms considerably influence geochemical processes such as the formation or weathering of rocks. They bind to mineral surfaces or convert minerals through metabolic processes. Furthermore, many biological components interact with dissolved metals in their environment, bind them or transform them. Together with modern biotechnologies, these mechanisms can be used to develop energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly and economic technologies. Experience all of this in the virtual laboratory, while fishing for resources, and make rare earths visible.
• On hot or wet paths to pure metal: In order to obtain strategically important metals in the most energy-efficient and environmentally friendly manner possible, the scientists at HIF carry out pyro- (heat-driven) and hydrometallurgical (water-based) processes. These are combined into complex processes where the valuable metals are extracted, concentrated and purified. Using small experiments, we will show you how this works in detail.
• Lecture "Raw materials for the energy transition - everything comes from the (waste) mountain" - The energy transition in particular is causing demand for copper and other metals. But how can the demand be met? Here, further approaches are needed that go beyond mining and recycling. Dr. Martin Rudolph uses illustrative examples to explain how valuable minerals can be extracted from waste.
• Lecture "Raw materials from the lamp" - It is no secret that raw material deposits on earth are limited. Therefore, innovative solutions for recycling are in demand. Researchers at the HIF have developed a process to recover rare earths from fluorescent lamps. The key to the targeted recovery of rare earths is provided by bacteriophages: viruses that primarily infect bacteria. By combining this with a special magnetic separation process, the Freiberg researchers have succeeded in selectively filtering raw materials out of mixtures of substances and reusing them. The talk will be given by Peter Boelens.

The whole program of the HZDR you can find here.