Station 6: G.E.O.S., Halsbrücke: From laboratory to large-scale plant
At the GEOS headquarters in Halsbrücke near Freiberg, the group gained insights into practical methods for the treatment, separation, and recovery of radioactively contaminated materials.
At the headquarters in Halsbrücke near Freiberg, the group experienced the broad professional expertise of GEOS, the third German RENO-TITAN partner. Founded in 1990, the company, with approximately 210 specialists, builds upon the tradition of the Geological Survey of Saxony, established in 1872, and later the VEB Geological Research and Exploration Freiberg, and covers a spectrum from geotechnics and process development to remediation, hydrogeology, geoinformatics, and radiation protection. This breadth makes GEOS a competent partner when technical, ecological, and legal issues intersect.
In a workshop for process engineering and biotechnology, the path from idea to pilot plant and large-scale implementation was illustrated. Two practical examples were the focus: the separation of materials in an alloy and the recycling of contaminated ion exchange resins.
Example 1: Recycling a Magnesium-Thorium Alloy.
A pilot plant processes components made of a magnesium-thorium alloy from the aerospace industry. Since the components are too large for final disposal and magnesium is also flammable, the aim is to separate the thorium content (1–2%). In a multi-stage process, the alloy is dissolved in hydrochloric acid, thorium is precipitated as thorium oxalate, and any entrained radium is precipitated with barium sulfate. What remains is a magnesium-containing solution for material recovery, while the thorium-containing residues are conditioned for final disposal.
Example 2: Regeneration of Ion Exchangers
In drinking water treatment, ion exchangers filter uranium-containing traces from the water. Once exhausted, they can be regenerated at GEOS: A special process releases the uranium ions from the resin, which can then be reused. The uranium-containing regeneration solution is treated separately and professionally. This saves resources and allows for controlled handling of the uranium-containing by-streams.
The study trip culminated in a certificate presentation ceremony in the Freiberg Ratskeller, which recognized the successful completion of a learning program that exemplarily combined theory, laboratory work and practice.
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