Prof. Dr. Ing. Friedrich

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Friedrich

Head of the institute of Process Metallurgy and Metal Recycling (IME), RWTH Aachen University

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Friedrich studied nonferrous metallurgy at the RWTH Technical University of Aachen. From 1984 to 1987 he worked as an assistant professor at IME, RWTH Aachen. In 1988 he defended Ph.D. thesis titled „Electrolytic refining of recycling-tin using three dimensional-electrodes“. From 1988 to 1992 Dr. Friedrich worked as the head of R&D department and from 1992 to 1995 as a head of profit centre ”Hydride-technology and smarts materials“ at GFE, Nürnberg, Germany. From 1995 to 1999 he was plant manager NiCd/NiMH at Varta Batterie AG in Hagen, Germany, and Ceska Lipa, Czech Republic. In 1999 professor Friedrich became the head of IME Process Metallurgy and Metal Recycling, chair and department of the RWTH Technical University of Aachen.

Abstract – Large amounts of waste materials, end of life consumer goods such as batteries and municipal waste arise every year. These waste streams pose a great environmental risk and are simultaneously a potential resource for value extraction. EAFs are identified as best available technologies for primary production of ferro-alloys as well as for respective recycling technologies. The close co-operation between researchers from university and experienced industry engineers is key to application based R&D. Such co-operations enable developments up to pilot and industry size.