The pollution of different environmental compartments by pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) is an issue of increasing concern. In order to increase the efficiency of PPCP removal in wastewater treatment plants, various technological options are being explored. In the field of adsorption-based removal techniques, synthetic high-silica zeolites, which exhibit hydrophobic properties, could be an interesting option [Jiang et al., 2018]. Due to their well-defined pore size and shape, zeolites are likely to be most attractive for scenarios in which the affinity towards one or a few species should be optimised, for example, in the treatment of wastewaters from pharmaceutical production facilities. As the number of possible zeolite-PPCP combinations is very large, atomistic simulations can be a suitable pathway to identify zeolites that might be particularly promising for the removal of a specific compound. This contribution will summarise some of our recent research efforts in this area, covering screening studies of numerous zeolite-PPCP combinations using force field methods [Brauer & Fischer 2024] as well as in-depth investigations of the adsorption of individual PPCPs using density functional theory [Fischer 2024, 2025]. For the specific case of carbamazepine adsorption, initial results of a joint computational-experimental study will be presented.

J. Brauer, M. Fischer, ChemPhysChem 25, 2024, e202400347

M. Fischer, CrystEngComm 26, 2024, 3795

M. Fischer, Chem. Eur. J. 31, 2025, e202500833

N. Jiang, R. Shang, S. G. J. Heijman, L. C. Rietveld, Water Res. 144, 2018, 145

Funding by the German Research Foundation (project numbers 455871835, 492604837) is gratefully acknowledged.

The development and application of self-reducing agglomerates through the use of biogenic carbon carriers in the form of biochar in the melting process of an iron foundry was carried out. Biogenic residues for the production of suitable biochar through their use in pyrolysis plants as well as fine-grained residues from the production chain of a cast iron foundry were selected, on the basis of which the recipes of the subsequent agglomerates for industrial use were developed. A key aspect is the chemical composition and thermophysical properties of the residual materials.

To evaluate the metallurgical suitability of the agglomerates, systematic trials were conducted under varying process conditions. These trials focused not only on the mechanical performance and handling of the agglomerates but also on their impact on the chemical composition of both the molten cast iron and the resulting slag. Variations in raw material composition, binder type, and furnace parameters were considered to assess how the agglomerates influence the final product quality and slag characteristics. The chemical analyses of metal and slag samples taken after the melting process provide insights into the interaction of the agglomerate components during high-temperature exposure, their effect on impurity levels, and possible slag-forming tendencies. This comprehensive evaluation helps to identify suitable agglomerate formulations that ensure metallurgical compatibility and stable process conditions. The results contribute to the development of environmentally friendly, resource-efficient melting practices in foundries and support the broader goal of integrating sustainable secondary materials into industrial metallurgical processes.

Capturing short-lived intermediate phases during crystallization is critical to understanding and improving the sustainability of mineral processing, but conventional ex situ methods often miss these transient species. We present a novel automated flow-through synthesis platform that enables simultaneous in-situ X-ray diffraction/scattering and Raman spectroscopy measurements to investigate crystallization processes in real time. This setup captures transient reaction intermediates and tracks crystallization mechanisms during wet-chemical reactions, providing direct insight into dissolution–reprecipitation pathways and amorphous phase transitions.

Using calcium sulfate (CaSO₄) as a model system, we demonstrate how the platform reveals complex crystallization dynamics: real-time monitoring of gypsum-to-bassanite conversion in a hypersaline solution captured intermediate nanoparticle formation and a clear dissolution–reprecipitation mechanism. By enabling such controlled synthesis and monitoring, the method supports sustainable mineral use and the potential recycling of calcium sulfate materials through optimized reaction pathways.

The modular design of our platform —incorporating a glass capillary flow cell and peristaltic pumps for continuous circulation—minimizes contamination and allows uninterrupted in-situ analysis, with all components programmed via a Python-based control system for improved reproducibility. This high level of automation also opens opportunities for self-optimization of syntheses via machine learning algorithms. While demonstrated on calcium sulfate, the versatile system is readily extendable to other material classes including polyoxometalates (POMs), metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), and covalent organic frameworks (COFs).

Materialographic sample preparation is essential for the reliable qualitative and quantitative analysis of geological and mineralogical samples. The aim of this presentation is to present optimized preparation methods for rocks, ores, minerals, fossils and material from tailings piles, which is becoming increasingly important in a world with fewer resources. The methods described include precise separation with different machines and cutting wheels adapted to the sample hardness and structure, whereby gentle sample treatment is necessary, especially in the case of porous, brittle or powdery samples. For tailings pile material, which often has heterogeneous compositions, high porosity and variable grain sizes, special mounting and impregnation techniques are recommended to ensure representative and artifact-free sample preparation.

Mounting is preferably done with low-viscosity epoxy resins under vacuum to completely fill pores and cracks and stabilize powder mixtures. Alternatively, warm-curing or light-curing mounting agents are used. The subsequent grinding and polishing processes are carried out with modern, semi-automatic and fully automatic grinding and polishing machines. Various abrasives and polishing agents, especially diamond and silicon carbide discs, are selected depending on the sample material and preparation target. Thin sections are produced by multi-stage grinding to final thicknesses of 20 to 30 μm, whereby precise control of flatness and thickness is essential.

The techniques presented enable high reproducibility, a significant reduction of preparation artifacts and excellent surface quality. This increases the informative value of light and scanning electron microscopy as well as analytical investigations. Targeted sample preparation is therefore a basic prerequisite for reliable geoscientific analyses, especially with regard to sustainable raw material extraction from secondary sources such as tailings piles.