ReKuMat

ReKuMat

Development of Specific Recultivation Material for Qualified Covering of Tailings and Contaminated Sites

Time span

From 01.08.2021 to 31.07.2024

Abbreviation

RekuMat

Project type

Recultivation materials

The development of antropogenic raw material sources, such as tailings or contaminated sites, results in a renewed encroachment on the landscape by opening up partially vegetated sites. After the extraction of raw materials from the legacies of ore mining and metallurgy, which are the focus of projects of the WIR! alliance recomine®, a fast and safe renaturation of the former tailings or contaminated sites is necessary. This is where the planned RekuMat research project comes in, by developing economically as well as ecologically sustainable recultivation materials. Thus, the approach fits into the recomine® vision.

The aim of the RekuMat project is to develop and test functionalized recultivation materials for qualified cover systems for tailings and contaminated sites, as well as associated processes for production and installation. Regionally available tailings or mineral residues serve as input materials for the base matrix. The solid residues or residual materials that remain after the extraction of valuable materials from the tailings usually have poor soil physical and/or chemical properties and an unfavorable granulometric condition. In addition, there is low microbiological activity. Therefore, the targeted processing and addition of property-improving aggregates is mandatory in order to adjust the biological, physical and chemical soil parameters according to requirements and regulations. The RekuMat project approach provides for the use of residual materials such as municipal sewage sludge as well as removed substrates from edible mushroom production as aggregates. These material streams are also generally available regionally and have a variety of desirable properties to address the weaknesses of the base matrix. Preliminary research indicates that removed mushroom substrates may be particularly recommended to achieve heavy metal immobilization or critical organic matter degradation necessary for soil remediation.

In order to ensure the functionality of the recultivation materials in consistent quality, the development and testing of recipes (mixing ratios), a targeted composting (adjustment of chemical and biological parameters), a good homogenization and the allocation of suitable plant communities are part of the reliable establishment of an initial vegetation. The results from RekuMat will help with a fast, reliable and economically as well as ecologically sensible renaturation of tailings using regionally available material flows. A transferability of the approaches to other sites and regions is therefore possible.

Contact

Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS)

Marc Lincke

+49 0351 2553 7766

marc.lincke@ikts.fraunhofer.de

recomine is supported by Program WIR!

recomine is a partner in