The speciation of major and trace elements controls their reactivity, mobility and bioavailability in natural and engineered environments. Knowledge on the relevant chemical species is therefore essential for the mechanistic understanding and quantitative modeling of the fate and impact of nutrients and contaminants in environmental systems.
Our research aims at elucidating biogeochemical processes by relating macroscopic observations from field and laboratory studies to the reactivity and transformation of distinct chemical species. In this context, element-specific X-ray absorption spectroscopy represents a key analytical tool as it provides direct insight into the speciation of elements even at trace levels and in complex environmental matrices.
