Research

In-situ quantification of reactive transport processes using spectral induced polarization

This project, funded by the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung, focuses on the application of SIP, a non-invasive geophysical method, to monitor microbially mediated denitrification in the subsurface. The project seeks to develop approaches to transfer laboratory biogeophysical applications to field sties.

Combining reactive transport modeling and geophysical sensing to monitor reactive barrier lifetime

Reactive materials are often deployed at field sites to remediate contaminants such as heavy metals. This project aims to improve our ability to monitor the longevity of reactive barriers for heavy metal contaminant remediation by combining reactive transport modeling and geophysical sensing of the changing electrical properties of the barriers during the remediation process.

Linking Redox-Cycling to Hydrogeology: Sedimentological Controls on the Capacity of Aquifers to Reduce Nitrate and other Dissolved Electron Acceptors (SeCuNDA)

This DFG-funded project is a collaboration between research groups in hydrogeology, sedimentology & organic chemistry and microbial ecology at the universities of Tübingen, Vienna and Kassel. The aim of the work is to advance the process-based understanding of the sedimentological, hydrogeological and microbial-ecological controls that modulate the ability of aquifers to reduce the agricultural contaminant, nitrate, via denitrification. Specifically, we seek to quantitatively link aquifer hydraulic and biogeochemical properties with the “reactivity” of aquifer sediments. Via coupled hydrogeological, sedimentological and microbiological field and lab investigations and reactive transport modelling, the project aims to yield reliable estimates of aquifer-specific reactivity to feed larger scale predictive models.

At the university of Kassel, we will develop complex reaction models that simulate denitrification activity in aquifer sediments as a basis for the development of virtual aquifer models. The upscaling will rely on travel-time based simulations and the parameterization of relative reactivity to predict the effect of sedimentology on an aquifers ability to reduce nitrate.

Learn more about Biogeophysics:

Mellage, A., Rezanezhad, F., and Van Cappellen, P. (2021) Biogeophysics: Exploring the Earth's subsurface biosphere. The Innovation Platform. Issue 6, 386-387.