MiReBooks Available

After much fine-tuning, the first edition of MiReBooks in printed form has been printed and is now available. These books will take mining education to a higher level by incorporating VR and AR elements into teaching!

Research Center on Hydrogen and Carbon Officially Opened

The new research center for hydrogen and carbon in Leoben ceremoniously opened its doors on October 17, 2024.
Rector Peter Moser and Vice-Rector Helmut Antrekowitsch emphasized the key role of the new research center for the future development of energy technologies and the importance of cooperation between science and industry. Advanced process technologies are being developed here that will make it possible to provide large quantities of hydrogen for industry. At the same time, the entire value-added cycle of hydrogen and carbon – from production, transportation and storage through to application – is being researched.
Another focus is on researching the sustainable use of carbon in the areas of agriculture, construction and high-tech applications, such as hydrogen storage.

Manuel Ortega, MSc

Manuel joined RIC Leoben in January 2019. He successfully manages the MiReBooks project, “Mixed Reality Handbooks for Mining Education”, a 14 partner pan-European education project, with a budget of 3 Mio EUR. The project is funded by EIT RawMaterials Academy and tackles current needs and gaps in mining education regarding digitalisation of contents and concepts.
Manuel obtained an MSc in mining engineering from León Mining University, Spain. After graduating from university he worked in the oil and gas service industry for many years.
He opted for Leoben because he felt like it was time to return to his mining roots.
Manuel is currently preparing his PhD in the area of a digital teaching platform.

DimESEE

Dubrovnik International ESEE Mining School

Duration: 04/2017 – 03/2025

The main objective of the project is knowledge transfer, as well as strengthening innovation capacities in the mining, recycling and waste management sectors. This is a lifelong learning project that will be implemented in close partnership with industry stakeholders in all project consortium countries.

During the years of project implementation, the following key topics were / are analyzed:
• 2017: Zero waste management
• 2018: Deep intelligent mining
• 2019: Small mining sites
• 2020: Recycling
• 2021: Innovation in Exploration
• 2022: Innovation in Orebody Characterization
• 2023: Innovation in Extraction
• 2024: Innovation in Ore Processing

The knowledge and skills gained at DIM aim at increasing the employability of mining engineers. In the long run, the programme will lead to an increase in sustainable mining and processing activities, which will result in economic growth and the creation of employment in respective countries.

DIM ESEE Website

Partner: Montanuniversität Leoben (RIC Leoben), University of Zagreb, Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, Dnipro University of Technology (NMU Ukraine), University of Miskolc, Technical University of Kosice, AGH University of Science and Technology, University of Belgrade – Faculty of Mining & Geology (UNIBG-RGF), University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski (Sofia)

Applications of Pure Carbon – JTF Project

The project aims to produce hydrogen and synthesis gas as sustainable energy sources on the one hand, and high-quality carbon on the other, based on the pyrolysis of biomass and subsequent conversion of the pyrolysis gas in a metal bath reactor.
The carbon captured from the atmosphere by plants during photosynthesis is permanently captured as elemental solid carbon through the combined pyrolysis and thus no longer returns to the atmosphere.

Project content:

• Concepts for combining the production of high-quality biochar from agricultural residues and pyrolysis of the resulting gas in a liquid metal reactor to produce hydrogen or synthesis gas
• Construction of a pilot plant
• Use of solid carbon as a valuable product and thus permanent removal of CO2 from the atmosphere
• Innovative, value-adding approach as a contribution to BECCS technology (Bio Energy Carbon Capture and Storage) as a ‘negative emission technology’

Applications of high-purity carbon include:

• Carbon as biochar in agriculture (humus formation, fertiliser storage and increased water retention capacity in soils)
• Carbon in composting plants (reduction of climate-damaging emissions);
• Carbon for the production of electrodes for a variety of technical applications (e.g. batteries or metal extraction);
• Application as a construction material.

Partners for future work limited to basic research with the help of the requested funds are: voestalpine AG, Ministry of Agriculture, Schunk Carbon Technology, Marienhütte Stahl- und Walzwerks GmbH, Montanwerke Brixlegg, Industriepark Arnoldstein, RHI Magnesita, Primetals Austria AG, OMV, CEMTEC GmbH, etc.

Impact:
For the Upper Styria region, a positive impact is expected for the hydrogen-using industry, as well as an incentive for companies involved in the use of high-purity carbon in high-tech applications and agriculture to settle in the area. In addition, an innovative research and development facility will also greatly enhance the location of the Montanuniversität Leoben in Upper Styria and create extensive new opportunities in the field of hydrogen and carbon research.

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