The Institute of REsource Ecology (IRE) is one of the eight institutes of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). The research activities are mainly integrated into the program “Nuclear Waste Management, Safety and Radiation Research (NUSAFE)” of the Helmholtz Association (HGF) and focused on the topics “Safety of Nuclear Waste Disposal” and “Safety Research for Nuclear Reactors”. Additionally, various activities have been started investigating chemical and environmental aspects of processing and recycling of strategic metals, namely rare earth elements. These activities are located in the HGF program “Energy Efficiency, Materials and Resources (EMR)”. Thus, all scientific work of the IRE belongs to the research field “Energy” of the HGF. The research objective is the protection of humans and the environment from hazards caused by pollutants resulting from technical processes that produce energy and raw materials. Treating technology and ecology as a unity is the major scientific challenge in assuring the safety of technical processes and gaining their public acceptance. We investigate the ecological risks ensued by radioactive and non-radioactive metals in the context of nuclear waste disposal, the production of energy in nuclear power plants and in processes along the value chain of metalliferous raw materials. A common goal is to generate better understanding about the dominating processes essential for metal mobilization and immobilization on the molecular level by using advanced spectroscopic methods. This in turn enables us to assess the macroscopic phenomena, including models, codes and data for predictive calculations, which determine the transport and distribution of contaminants in the environment.

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A safe treatment and disposal of spent Tri-Structural Isotropic (TRISO) coated fuel particles is one of the most important issues for developing the next generation of nuclear reactors, such as a Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR). The project investigates the encapsulation of surrogated TRISO particles in Glass-Graphite Composite (GGC) and in Alumina Borosilicate Glass (ALBG) and compares their geological performance in the repository. The study deals with the assessment and performance of both matrices in a geological repository's conditions, measuring their chemical durability for 28 days at temperatures ranging 25-90°C and using American Standard for Testing Material (ASTM-C1220-98). The leach test revealed that only sintered ALBG with TRISO particles doped in cesium oxide could provide a safe Engineering Barrier System (EBS). The thermal property of the matrices was examined by measuring their thermal diffusivities. The thermal diffusivity of ALBG bearing various proportions of TRISO particles was measured experimentally using Laser Flash Analysis (LFA). The experimental results validated through a numerical method using Image Based Modelling (IBM). The effect of the porosity in decreasing the thermal diffusivity of TRISO particles was also discussed. In addition, the study deals with the immobilisation of ion exchange resins (doped with radioactive and non-radioactive cesium and cobalt) in borosilicate glass. The thermal analysis revealed that a successful immobilisation could be achieved once the sulfur functional group in the resin was decomposed and evaporated in a form of SO2/SO. The minimum required temperature of the heat treatment was 500°C under air environment as a pre-conditioning stage before immobilisation.

Most prawns are prepared as frozen or canned meat and the remaining waste is used as a feed supplement or directly disposed on to the land, which affects the environment. Fresh prawn bio-waste contains protein, astaxanthin, flavor compounds and chitin. The use of chitin in various applications is limited due to its water insolubility. In this research, a new method is developed to prepare water-soluble colloidal chitin (WSCC) from prawn waste. WSCC having the percentage of degree of deacetylation same with that of chitin follows non-newtonian shear thinning behaviour. The characteristic study showed that the breakage of polymer chains during processing thus reduced the molecular weight and bulk density of WSCC. Therefore, functional properties of WSCC can be controlled by optimizing the processing conditions. Astaxanthin complex has attracted considerable interest in relation to its health benefits because of its powerful antioxidant activity. Traditional extraction of astaxanthin complex from prawn waste using organic solvents requires post-purification steps, creates solvent disposal problem and degrades the pigment. This research develops an efficient way of recovering astaxanthin complex from prawn waste that eliminates the problems associated with solvent extraction methods and offers possible recyclability of the solvents used. Post-harvest blackening in prawns adversely affects both quality and consumer acceptability. However, consumer safety over the chemicals, especially sulphites used in inhibiting prawn blackening is of a major concern. This study shows that the antioxidant, astaxanthin complex can inhibit the poly phenol oxidase (PPO) catalyzed blackening reaction in prawns. Although prawns have astaxanthin complex present in their natural state, its concentration in vivo may not be sufficient to act against PPO. Therefore, astaxanthin complex-enriched feed in prawn culture may prevent prawn melanosis and may eliminate the post-harvest handling methods.

Swedish people today are generally interested in environmental issues. One can assume that this would affect the way people act in their daily lives. However, research has shown that when it comes to attitudes and behavior, there is what has been described as “a gap”. Concern for the environment does not automatically mean that people act in an environmentally friendly way. The fact is that there are many barriers that prevent a so-called pro environmental behavior. This study deals with some of the factors that can influence a specific behavior, namely the sorting of food waste in the City of Lidingö – a municipality in Sweden that works to increase the number of subscribers of food waste collection. The waste is a valuable substrate when producing biogas, which is considered a renewable fuel. By replacing fossil fuels with biogas, the amounts of greenhouse gases that reach the atmosphere can be reduced. A questionnaire was sent out to more than 800 local citizens (of which half of them are subscribers of food waste collection) with questions about values, beliefs, motivation factors and opinions about efforts linked to the sorting of food waste. The results show that sustainability reasons are strong when it comes to why people decide to sort out food waste, and that a number of the subscribers of food waste collection consider it a moral obligation to take action in this matter. Several barriers, especially in the form of economic issues, preclude others from sorting. A need for more information, when it comes to the significance of this behavior, is also evident. As the thesis has its focus on pro-environmental behavior, factors in Stern’s Value-belief-norm theory, are used as the basis for the analysis. Blake’s model of barriers between environmental concern and action is used when studying what it is that prevents people from sorting out their food waste.

Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) is becoming an increasing challenge for municipal authorities due to global increases in waste quantities. Other challenges include; changes in waste composition and increasing concern for the environment. As cities continue to grow, so too will the waste. The management of waste therefore becomes critical to municipal planning. Health and sanitation, aesthetics, minimization of pollution and the monitoring of critical resources are just some of the reasons municipalities must manage and control solid waste. Using the Toronto Pearson Eco Business Zone as a case study, this thesis explores how waste (by-product) exchanges might inform municipal planning and how waste exchanges could advise planners and academics in managing growing amounts of municipal waste. The Toronto Pearson Eco Business Zone is a developing Eco Industrial Park which utilizes theories and concepts of ecology and resource recovery to reduce waste. Utilizing a qualitative research approach, data was obtained from businesses throughout the Park to develop a waste exchange database. The results of this study suggest that the application of concepts underlying Eco Industrial Parks such as a by-product exchange program can assist to drive resource recovery and sustainable waste management practices. However, users of the exchange are highly uneducated or unaware of the links between waste and resources. This was made evident by the fact that companies were more inclined to continue the practice of revenue recycling over the sustainable approach as offered by the exchange. This conclusion suggests that although a waste exchange can help to drive resource recovery, increased education and awareness through mandatory regulations could help to drive resource recovery even further. For the greater success of waste management in Canada, the Government should take action to regulate the planning and organization of waste exchanges in industrial and surrounding areas. The Pearson Eco-Business by-product exchange suggests that cities should not be planned without consideration of solid waste and resource recovery therefore suggesting that concepts related to Eco-Industrial parks should be applied to all municipal and city planning moving forward.

Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) is becoming an increasing challenge for municipal authorities due to global increases in waste quantities. Other challenges include; changes in waste composition and increasing concern for the environment. As cities continue to grow, so too will the waste. The management of waste therefore becomes critical to municipal planning. Health and sanitation, aesthetics, minimization of pollution and the monitoring of critical resources are just some of the reasons municipalities must manage and control solid waste. Using the Toronto Pearson Eco Business Zone as a case study, this thesis explores how waste (by-product) exchanges might inform municipal planning and how waste exchanges could advise planners and academics in managing growing amounts of municipal waste. The Toronto Pearson Eco Business Zone is a developing Eco Industrial Park which utilizes theories and concepts of ecology and resource recovery to reduce waste. Utilizing a qualitative research approach, data was obtained from businesses throughout the Park to develop a waste exchange database. The results of this study suggest that the application of concepts underlying Eco Industrial Parks such as a by-product exchange program can assist to drive resource recovery and sustainable waste management practices. However, users of the exchange are highly uneducated or unaware of the links between waste and resources. This was made evident by the fact that companies were more inclined to continue the practice of revenue recycling over the sustainable approach as offered by the exchange. This conclusion suggests that although a waste exchange can help to drive resource recovery, increased education and awareness through mandatory regulations could help to drive resource recovery even further. For the greater success of waste management in Canada, the Government should take action to regulate the planning and organization of waste exchanges in industrial and surrounding areas. The Pearson Eco-Business by-product exchange suggests that cities should not be planned without consideration of solid waste and resource recovery therefore suggesting that concepts related to Eco-Industrial parks should be applied to all municipal and city planning moving forward.