It sounds like utopia: mining sludge is transformed into valuable metals and new building materials. Over the past three years, researchers at TU Bergakademie Freiberg have successfully trialled this innovative process in a pilot plant. The team succeeded in extracting iron and zinc from mining sludge and wastewater and processing the residues into a building material based on geopolymer technology. In the end, they release clean water into the original watercourse. The chemists proved that the innovative process works at the so-called Roter Graben near Freiberg - they want to further develop the process with regional partners in the future. However, the recycling technology could also provide solutions for post-mining in other regions.

https://tu-freiberg.de/en/news/fresh-iron-old-mining-sludge

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