Investigation of pore scale processes at biogeochemical interfaces using sensor micromodels and Raman microscopy

• Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Thomas Baumann
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Bodenwissenschaften
• Förderung: Förderung von 2007 bis 2015
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 40976435

Biogeochemical interfaces (BGI) in soil control the fate of organic chemicals and the functioning of soil as a filter to protect groundwater resources. To understand and quantify the processes at BGI, the concentration gradients of organic chemicals have to be measured and the spatial and temporal dynamics of the BGI themselves have to be monitored. Microfluidic systems with the pore structure of soils (micromodels), allow the visualize the spatial development of BGI in a flow through system under varying environmental conditions with single interface resolution. This project extends the micromodel technique with a chemically sensitive sensor layer and with Raman microscopy to measure the concentration of hexadecane and phenanthrene, possible degradation products and changes of the BGI with high spatial and temporal resolution (<2 μm, <1 s). The measurements are non-destructive and do not require tracers in the fluid flow. The time series data of the spatial features and concentration gradients at BGI is a keystone for quantification of the processes at BGI and provides a link between projects on the molecular level (AFM), pore scale visualizations (CLSM, μCT) and projects on the dm-scale.

• DFG-Verfahren: Schwerpunktprogramme
• Teilprojekt zu: SPP 1315: Biogeochemical Interfaces in Soil
• Beteiligte Person: Professor Dr. Reinhard Nießner