Das Projekt "Schwerpunktprogramm (SPP) 1315: Biogeochemische Grenzflächen in Böden; Biogeochemical Interfaces in Soil, Highly-resolved imaging in artificial and natural soils to yield dynamics and structure of interfaces from oxygen, pH and water content" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Universität Potsdam, Institut für Erd- und Umweltwissenschaften.In soils and sediments there is a strong coupling between local biogeochemical processes and the distribution of water, electron acceptors, acids, nutrients and pollutants. Both sides are closely related and affect each other from small scale to larger scale. Soil structures such as aggregates, roots, layers, macropores and wettability differences occurring in natural soils enhance the patchiness of these distributions. At the same time the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of these important parameters is difficult to access. By applying non-destructive measurements it is possible to overcome these limitations. Our non-invasive fluorescence imaging technique can directly quantity distribution and changes of oxygen and pH. Similarly, the water content distribution can be visualized in situ also by optical imaging, but more precisely by neutron radiography. By applying a combined approach we will clarify the formation and architecture of interfaces induces by oxygen consumption, pH changes and water distribution. We will map and model the effects of microbial and plant root respiration for restricted oxygen supply due to locally high water saturation, in natural as well as artificial soils. Further aspects will be biologically induced pH changes, influence on fate of chemicals, and oxygen delivery from trapped gas phase.
Das Projekt "Forschergruppe (FOR) 1525: INUIT - Ice Nuclei research UnIT, Chemische und mineralogische Charakterisierung von Eisnuklei und Eisresiduen" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Institut für Atmosphäre und Umwelt.Vorkommen, Häufigkeit, chemische Zusammensetzung und Mischungszustand jener Aerosolpartikel in der Erdatmosphäre, an denen sich durch heterogene Nukleation in unterkühlten Wolken Eis bilden kann (Ice Nucleating Particles = INP), werden experimentell untersucht. Diese Informationen sind wichtig für das Verständnis der Niederschlagsbildung, und finden in parametrisierter Form Eingang in meteorologische Modelle zur Vorhersage des Niederschlages. Das Projekt verwendet hierbei im Wesentlichen physikalische Methoden zur Identifikation und Isolation der Partikel aus der Atmosphäre, und nachfolgend elektronenmikroskopische Methoden zur mineralogischen Analyse einzelner Partikel. Die Identifikation jener wenigen Aerosolpartikel (ca. 1 von 10.000 bis 1 von 100.000), die Eisbildungsfähigkeit besitzen, erfolgt, indem eine Aerosolprobe einer Unterkühlung unter 0°C und Wasserdampfübersättigung ausgesetzt wird, und die an INP entstehenden Eiskristalle fotografiert und gezählt werden. Es werden sowohl Aerosolpartikel aus luftgetragenem Aerosol untersucht (aus dem Eiskeimzähler FINCH) wie auch Partikel, die aus einer Luftprobe auf einem Silizium-Probenträger niedergeschlagen und danach als INP identifiziert wurden (Eiskeimzähler FRIDGE). Eine dritte und vierte Methode (Ice-CVI und ISI) isolieren eisbildungsfähige Partikel, indem aus einer angesaugten Probe von Wolkenluft die Eiskristalle strömungstechnisch von den übrigen Luftbestandteilen getrennt werden. Alle Eiskeimproben werden im Rasterelektronenmikroskop auf Größe, Morphologie, Mischungszustand und chemische Zusammensetzung untersucht und die Ergebnisse der verschiedenen Ansätze verglichen. In Feldexperimenten werden Atmosphärenproben verschiedener geographischer Provenienz (Mitteleuropa, Forschungsstation Jungfraujoch, Wüstenstaub, Vulkanstaub) erhalten. In Laborexperimenten wird mit vorher gesammelt und charakterisierten Modellsubstanzen gearbeitet. Weiterhin wird durch tägliche Messungen der Anzahl-Konzentration und Zusammensetzung von Eiskeimen am Taunus Observatorium nahe Frankfurt über einen längeren Zeitraum untersucht, ob es Saisonalitäten, bevorzugte Quellgebiete (z.B. Wüsten, Industrie, etc.) und biologische Einflussfaktoren (z.B. Pollen, Pflanzenabrieb, Bakterien) für das Vorkommen von Eisnuklei gibt.
Das Projekt "Physicochemical Aging Mechanisms in Soil Organic Matter (SOM- AGING): II. Hydration-dehydration mechanisms at Biogeochemical Interfaces" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau, Institut für Umweltwissenschaften.Soil organic matter (SOM) controls large part of the processes occurring at biogeochemical interfaces in soil and may contribute to sequestration of organic chemicals. Our central hypothesis is that sequestration of organic chemicals is driven by physicochemical SOM matrix aging. The underlying processes are the formation and disruption of intermolecular bridges of water molecules (WAMB) and of multivalent cations (CAB) between individual SOM segments or between SOM and minerals in close interaction with hydration and dehydration mechanisms. Understanding the role of these mediated interactions will shed new light on the processes controlling functioning and dynamics of biogeochemical interfaces (BGI). We will assess mobility of SOM structural elements and sorbed organic chemicals via advanced solid state NMR techniques and desorption kinetics and combine these with 1H-NMR-Relaxometry and advanced methods of thermal analysis including DSC, TGADSC- MS and AFM-nanothermal analysis. Via controlled heating/cooling cycles, moistening/drying cycles and targeted modification of SOM, reconstruction of our model hypotheses by computational chemistry (collaboration Gerzabek) and participation at two larger joint experiments within the SPP, we will establish the relation between SOM sequestration potential, SOM structural characteristics, hydration-dehydration mechanisms, biological activity and biogechemical functioning. This will link processes operative on the molecular scale to phenomena on higher scales.
Das Projekt "Externes Qualitätssicherungsprogramm für Parameter des Biologischen Monitorings" wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg - Medizinische Fakultät - Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin.Ziele: Qualitätssicherung des Biologischen Monitorings organischer und anorganischer Stoffe in arbeits- und umweltmedizinischen Bereichen; Vorgehensweisen: Ringversuch (halbjährlich)
Das Projekt "DFG Trilateral collaboration Deutschland-Israel-Palestine: 'Biotic and abiotic factor affecting biological soil crust formation and recovery in a semiarid dune ecosystem : Gaza and NW Negev'" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Universität Rostock, Institut für Biowissenschaften, Abteilung Pflanzenphysiologie.Sandy soils of the arid/semiarid dune fields of the Palestinian Gaza Strip and the Israeli western Negev are extensively covered by biological soil crusts (BSC), which stabilize the surface and prevent desertification. Political discussions in Israel suggest transferring a large part of this sand belt to the Gaza Strip within a final peace accord. Inappropriate land uses may lead to destruction of the BSC and initiate desertification, as already occurring in parts of the Gaza Strip. In this interdisciplinary project the influence of environmental factors on the vitality, stability and the recovery potential of the BSC will be investigated in order to evaluate the carrying capacity of this fragile landscape, in relation to rainfall, soil and relief conditions. A transect stretching from the Mediterranean coast in the Palestinian Gaza Strip (370 mm rainfall) to 65 km southwards in Israel ( Nizzana , less than 100 mm rainfall) has been selected. The interactions of molecular biological, physiological, physical and soil chemical processes, expressed in specific characteristics of the BSC and the underlying soil, will be assessed from the molecular to the landscape scale.
Das Projekt "Schwerpunktprogramm (SPP) 1158: Antarctic Research with Comparable Investigations in Arctic Sea Ice Areas; Bereich Infrastruktur - Antarktisforschung mit vergleichenden Untersuchungen in arktischen Eisgebieten, Formation of brine channels in sea ice" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Fachhochschule Münster, Fachbereich Physikalische Technik.Within this interdisciplinary project the formation of brine channels in sea ice will be explored. The microscopic properties of sea ice, especially the permeability plays an important role for the energy exchange between ocean and atmosphere and is determined by the brine channel volume. The brine channel structure will be measured by computer tomography and image analysis. We intend to describe the channel structure by two phenomenological models, a morphogenesis approach of Alan Turing in connection with the phase transition theory of Ginzburg and Landau, and the phase field method with respect to the Cahn-Hilliard equation. We solve these nonlinear evolution equations in two and three dimensions and compare the size and texture of the brine channels with the measurements. In addition to the phenomenological equations we support our studies with molecular dynamics simulations and the density functional theory in order to obtain deeper insights at the molecular scale. Comparative first-principles studies will then enhance the trust in the extracted parameters and will lead to classical density functional for the two phases. We will discuss the phase transitions in terms of a phenomenological theory based on microscopic parameters and try to extract the underlying mechanism for the formation of water-ice boundaries. Specifically, we want to explore three theoretical questions: (i) How are ice-water melting fronts moving, (ii) How are brine channels formed and (iii) How do surface properties influence the structure formation of brine channels. The project is based on the experiences of three fields, the theoretical biological physics, chemical physics and the many-body theory. The final aim of the project is to provide input parameters for global climate models.
Im Entsorgerhandbuch werden Abfallentsorgungsanlagen vom Typ Deponien, Chemisch-physikalisch-biologische Anlagen, Mechanisch-biologische Anlagen, Recyclinganlagen, Thermische Behandlungsanlagen, Sortieranlagen für Siedlungsabfälle (ohne Bauabfälle), Kompostierungsanlagen, Abfallvergärungsanlagen, Zwischenlager mit Behandlung dargestellt, die vom Betreiber zur Veröffentlichung freigegeben sind.
Das Projekt "The effect of tree species diversity on phosphorus availability and cycling (sub-project of the Chinese-European DFG research unit 'BEF China')" wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Institut für Biologie II, Lehrstuhl für Geobotanik.The maintenance of soil fertility through species diverse forests might be an important ecosystem service in tropical regions with their large areas of forest plantations. Preliminary investigations at the Comparative Study Plots of BEF China have shown, that soil P concentrations are very low, a large proportion of available P is in organic form, and that many of the species show leaf and litter P concentrations that are indicative of P limitation. However, the high variation of P tissue concentrations points to a variety of species-specific mechanisms to adopt to limited P supply. Given the large range of biologically available soil P compounds, and the variety of mechanisms by which plants can access P, we assume that co-existing plant species partition soil organic P to reduce competition. Based on this we hypothesize that (a) the proportion of soil P in available fractions increases with increasing tree species diversity of plots, (b) neighbourhood tree species diversity affects soil P fractions and nutrition of individual trees, and (c) effects of tree species diversity on productivity decline (complementarity reduction) with decreasing diversity of soil organic P sources. In addition, we will explore whether the different soil P fractions can be distinguished on the basis of their spectral properties, which would greatly reduce analytical efforts.
Das Projekt "Application of biofiltration as a promising pre-treatment method to enhance the sustainability of low-pressure membrane operations" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: University of Waterloo, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NSERC Chair in Water Treatment.Membranes are finding increasing application in drinking water treatment. The most significant issue facing membrane operation is fouling, leading to a reduction in throughput and/or increase of the transmembrane pressure. Its control and prevention result in high manpower requirements as well as in increased electrical power consumption and increases in the use of chemicals for cleaning. The need to maintain a high permeate flux is one of the major cost factors - capital as well as operating costs - associated with membrane systems. Although biological filtration processes have long been used in drinking water treatment, their successful application as a pre-treatment to reduce membrane fouling is quite recent. The overall goal of the proposed research is to determine optimal operation and backwash procedure for this promising technology to be applied as pre-treatment to enhance the sustainability of low-pressure membrane operations. In addition, biofiltration applied as a 'green' membrane pre-treatment is to be optimized under different seasonal conditions in Lake Ontario (feed quality, temperature, and flow pattern) and compared with a conventional membrane pre-treatment method (coagulation/flocculation). For this purpose, full-scale biologically active carbon contactors (BACCs) will be operated and optimized, so that the applicability can already be proved in an experimental phase.
Das Projekt "Health effects of indoor pollutants: integrating microbial, toxicological and epidemiological approaches (HITEA)" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Kommission der Europäischen Gemeinschaften Brüssel. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Terveyden ka Hyvinvoinnin Laitos.Objective: Healthy housing and good indoor air quality are important goals of public health. However, biological indoor pollution due to dampness, moisture and mold is an emerging environmental health issue, as recognized in EU indoor air policy documents. Prevalence of dampness is remarkable, and may still increase due to demands of energy savings and extreme weather periods and floods associated with climate change. The exposure may lead to long-term impacts such as asthma. The documentation is strong on association between building mold and health, but the causative agents and disease mechanisms are largely unknown, which impedes recognition of a mold-affected patient in health care. Efficient control and regulation are hampered by the insufficient understanding of these causalities. Understanding of the links between building practices and health is lacking. There is an urgent need for European-wide knowledge to form a basis for establishing building-associated criteria for healthy indoor environments. The aim of this proposal is to clarify the health impacts of indoor exposures on children and adults by providing comprehensive exposure data on biological and chemical factors in European indoor environments.
