Naturally produced volatile and polar organohalogens in soils
Final Report Abstract
This subproject as part of the DFG Research Unit 763 investigated natural halogenation processes in water and sediment soils of hypersaline environments and minerals. The overall aims of this subproject were to further explore the formation of atmospherically-relevant halocarbons including chloromethane and bromomethane, and to study their biogeochemical cycles, in particular in semi-arid areas. Generally, we followed the project according to the research plans and most work packages could be successfully addressed. Most of our results were published in peer-reviewed journals. Part of the results from hypersaline environments especially the volatile halogenated compounds are presented from the dissertation of Krause that will be published. A new designed highly sensitive purge-and-trap GC-MS system for gases in water and soil samples was developed which could easily adapted for the measurement of gases in Fluid Inclusions of minerals. Furthermore a gas-tight grinding device was constructed for a planetary mill that after the grinding could be attached in-line to the purge-and-trap GC-MS.. Resuming the highlights from the subproject Schöler: Review of the formation mechanisms of natural organohalogens with particular attention to recent advances in biomimetic chemistry and in Fenton chemistry (together with subproject Comba). - Development of a new designed highly sensitive and highly versatile purge-and-trap GC-MS system for the analysis of a wide range (b.p from - 160 to 200 0C) of volatile organic compounds in water, soils and minerals (together with subproject Zetzsch). - Organohalogen emissions from saline environments and spatial extrapolation using remote sensing. - Abiotic formation of polar organic compounds in soils by Fenton chemistry - Results from model reactions and soil samples. - Chloromethane release from carbonaceous meteorites affords new insight into Mars lander findings (analytical support to subproject Keppler). - Abiotic furan formation with a Fe2+ bispidine complex and the natural occurrence of furans in hypersaline environments (together with subproject Comba). - Thermolytic degradation of methylmethionine and implications for its role in dimethylsulphide and chloromethane formation in hypersaline environments. - Natural occurrence of volatile mono-/polyhalogenated hydrocarbons in water and sediments samples from hypersaline environments. With our investigations of halogenated compounds in Fluid Inclusions and our contribution to organic compounds on carbonaceous meteorites the route is paved for new research to origin of life – be it on Earth or on extraterrestrial bodies. Most remarkable are also the findings of longer-chained monohalogenated alkyl halides in water and soil samples from hypersaline environments that point to new - up to now - undisclosed halogenation processes in chloride saturated acidic aqueous solutions.
Publications
- Organohalogen emissions from saline environments – spatial extrapolation using remote sensing as most promising tool. Biogeosciences 9 (2012) 1225-1235
Kotte, K., F. Löw, S.G. Huber, I. Mulder and H.F. Schöler
(See online at https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-9-1225-2012) - A new purge and trap headspace technique to analyse low volatile compounds from fluid inclusions of rocks and minerals. Chem.Geol. 358 (2013) 148–155
Mulder, I., S.G. Huber, T. Krause, C. Zetzsch, K. Kotte, S. Dultz and H.F. Schöler
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2013.09.003) - Remote sensing based analysis of landscape change in the desiccated seabed of the Aral Sea - A potential tool for assessing the hazard degree of dust and salt storms. Environ.Monitor.Assess. 185 (2013) 8303-8319
Löw, F, P. Navratil, K. Kotte, H.F. Schöler and O. Bubenzer
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3174-7) - Results from aromatic model compounds and soil samples. Environ.Sci.Technol. 47 (2013) 1323-1329
Studenroth, S., S.G. Huber, K. Kotte and H.F. Schöler
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1021/es304208a) - Chloromethane release from carbonaceous meteorite affords new insight into Mars lander findings. Scientific Reports 4 (2014)7010
Keppler, F., D.B. Harper, M. Greule, U. Ott, T. Sattler, H.F. Schöler and J.T.G. Hamilton:
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1038/srep07010) - Model reactions and natural occurrence of furans from hypersaline environments. Biogeosciences 11 (2014) 2871-2882
Krause, T., C.Tubbesing, K. Benzing and H.F. Schöler
(See online at https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-2871-2014) - Natural occurrence of volatile mono-/polyhalogenated and aromatic/heteroaromatic hydrocarbons from hypersaline environments. PhD thesis, Univ. Heidelberg 2014
Krause, T.
(See online at https://doi.org/10.11588/heidok.00016746) - Foreword to the Special Issue on ‘Naturally Produced Organohalogens - Atmosphere, Soil’. Environ.Chem. 12 (2015) i-ii
Schöler, H.F., C. Zetzsch and A. Kappler
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1071/ENv12n4_FO) - Oxidation and halogenation of organic matter in nature. Environ.Chem. 12 (2015) 381-395
Comba, P., T. Krause, M. Kerscher and H.F. Schöler
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1071/EN14240) - Thermolytic degradation of methyl methionine and implications for its role in DMS and MeCl formation in hypersaline environments. Environ.Chem. 12 (2015) 415-425
Mulder, I., T. Krause, T. Sattler, C. Tubbesing, S. Studenroth, K. Bukowski, E. Atlas and H.F. Schöler
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1071/EN14207) - How salt lakes affect atmospheric new particle formation: A case study in Western Australia. Sci.Total Environ. 573 (2016) 985–995
Kamilli, K.A., J. Ofner, T. Krause, T. Sattler, P. Schmitt-Kopplin, E. Eitenberger, G. Friedbacher, B. Lendl, H. Lohninger, H.F. Schöler and A. Held
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.08.058)
