Das Foto zeigt zwei Laborflaschen mit Flüssigkeit
TUBAF

Main research areas

of the WG Microbiology and Biohydrometallurgy

  • Physiology and taxonomy of extremophilic microorganisms
  • Iron/sulphur-metabolising acidophiles
  • Acidophilic sulphate reducers
  • Bioleaching of primary and secondary resources
  • Selective metal recovery from mining-influenced waters (biosorption and biomineralisation)
  • Microbial diversification of primary and secondary resources
  • Selective metal recovery from mining-influenced waters (biosorption and biomineralisation)
  • Microbial diversity and ecology

Research projects

  • Styrene BioSense - A biosensor for the detection of styrene as a basis for further applications
    Krüger-Stiftung I 02/2026-01/2028 I Project leader: Prof. Hedrich, Project staff: Dr. Oelschlägel
  • PURECycle: PEM components can be recycled in an environmentally friendly way.
    BMFTR I 12/2025-11/2028 I Project partner: Prof. Hedrich
  • INNOCycle: Technology development for the bioleaching of slag and monitoring of the bioleaching tailings piles.
    BMFTR I 11/2025-10/2028 I Project leader: Prof. Hedrich
  • Establishment of reductive, microbial processes for water treatment and resource recovery from residual material streams
    ESF doctoral scholarship Sarah Kuss I 01/2024-12/2028
  • ERA-MIN Verbundprojekt: CuSlag2CRM - Innovative copper slag processing for raw material supply; TP1: Chemical and biochemical leaching methods
    BMBF I 06/2024-05/2027 I Project partner: Prof. Hedrich
  • XTRACT - A Sustainable Ecosystem for the Innovative Resource Recovery and Complex Ore Extraction
    EU Horizon Europe I 01/2024-12/2026 I Project leader: Prof. Hedrich
EFRE-ESF Logo

ESF doctoral scholarship Sarah Kuß

Establishment of reductive, microbial processes for water treatment and resource recovery from residual material streams (01/2024-12/2028)
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Foto im Lehrberwerk der Reichen Zeche
TUBAF

XTRACT – A Sustainable Ecosystem for the Innovative Resource Recovery and Complex Ore Extraction

EU Horizon Europe (12/2023-11/2026)
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Biolaugung von Schlacken
TUBAF

CuSlag2CRM

TP1: Chemical and biochemical leaching methods. BMBF (06/2024-05/2027)
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Das Foto zeigt einen Bioreaktor mit Flüssigkeit im Labor
TUBAF

INNOCycle

Technology development for the bioleaching of slag and monitoring of the bioleaching tailings piles. BMFTR (11/2025-10/2028)
Laboreindrücke
Andreas Hiekel

PUREcycle

Environmentally friendly recycling of PEM components. BMFTR (12/2025-11/2028)
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Indigo im Glas
TUBAF

Styrene BioSense

A biosensor for the detection of styrene as a basis for further applications. Krüger Foundation (02/2026-01/2028)
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  • WIR! - rECOmine - MindMontan: TP1: Pilotanlagenplanung und biologische Schadstoffabtrennung aus Sickerwässern
    BMBF I 05/2023-12/2025 I Project leader: Prof. Hedrich
  • ReLiFe - Recycling Lithium Ferrophosphate in the RIS area
    EIT RawMaterials I 01/2023-12/2025 I Project leader: Prof. Hedrich
  • Generation of a new exoelectrogenic bacterium by expression of the iron reduction electron transfer pathway of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
    DBU doctoral scholarship Helena Fuchs I 01/2022-03/2025
  • Biohydrometallurgy for recycling industrial residues
    BGR I 09/2022-11/2024 I Project leader: Jun.-Prof. Hedrich
  • VoOel - FLEX-Projekt
    TUBAF Innovation Fond I 02/2024-07/2024 I Project staff: Dr. Oelschlägel
  • Source-related control and treatment of Saxon mining waters
    Krüger-Stiftung I 11/2021-01/2024 I Project leader: Jun.-Prof. Hedrich, project staff: Dr. Oelschlägel
  • Investigation of the composition of acidophilic biocoenoses in extreme habitats of the research and training mine "Reiche Zeche"
    07/2020-06/2023 I Project leader: Jun.Prof. Hedrich, project staff: Dr Haferburg
  • BioChemPGE - Biological and chemical processing options for platinum ores
    BMBF (WTZ-South Africa) I 09/2020-06/2022 I Project leader: Jun.-Prof. Hedrich
  • Preparation of a study on the processing of platinum ores by a combination of bio-hydrometallurgy and precipitation
    BGR I 03/2021-02/2022 I Project leader: Jun.-Prof. Hedrich
  • Work on microbiological enrichment cultures of acidophilic bacteria and/or archaea
    BGR I 07/2021-12/2021 I Project leader: Jun.-Prof. Hedrich, project staff: Dr. Haferburg
  • Characterisation of thermo-acidophilic archaea
    BGR I 10/2020-11/2021 I Project leader: Jun.-Prof. Hedrich, project staff: Dr. Hofmann

Publications