Nano-SIMS for soil science - exploring elemental distribution, formation and properties of submicron sized particles in soils
Final Report Abstract
The molecular complexity of SOM is extraordinary, and the metabolic products of higher plants and the diverse soil microbial community are mixed together in a threedimensional inorganic soil matrix. An essential step to overcoming this obstacle is the identification of intact molecular structures in soils. The establishment of the NanoSIMS facility for such soil analyses is a major step forward in securing state-of-the-art analytical techniques for elucidating the composition of soil and its reactive interface. During the first years of operation of the NanoSIMS facility at TUM, there is substantial progress with respect to the sample preparation techniques. Sample preparation is established for single particles as well as soil aggregates. The strong interplay at already small scales is highly challenging for the sample preparation, but it makes it also difficult to identify clearly the various components. Our studies show that Nano-SIMS is capable of differentiating between organic and inorganic soil components and of identifying different minerals. We were also able to demonstrate that the NanoSIMS analytical technology can be applied to soil aggregates. We are able to locate the association of relevant elements/isotopes, such as 12C, 13C, 12C14N, C15N, 28Si, 29Si, 40Ca, 44Ca, 27Al16O and 56Fe16O at the submicron scale. The successful establishment of the NanoSIMS facility and its great opportunities for the advanced analysis of micro-scale soil organic matter processes was also reported online in the News section of the TU München homepage (http://portal.mytum.de/pressestelle/meldungen/NewsArticle_20111006_111356).
Publications
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(2010) Elucidating soil structural associations of organic material with nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS). In: Gilkes RJ, Prakongkep N (eds) Proceedings of the 19th World Congress of Soil Science - soil solutions for a changing world. IUSS, Brisbane, pp 37–40
Kögel-Knabner I, Heister K, Mueller CW, Hillion F
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(2012) Advanced spectroscopic, microscopic and tomographic characterization techniques to study biogeochemical interfaces in soil. Journal of Soils and Sediments 12 (2012), pp. 3-23
Rennert T, Totsche KU, Heister K, Kersten M, Thieme J
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(2012) NanoSIMS as a tool for characterizing soil model compounds and organomineral associations in artificial soils. Journal of Soils and Sediments 12 (2012), pp. 35-47
Heister K, Höschen C, Pronk GJ, Mueller CW, Kögel-Knabner I
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(2012) Submicron scale imaging of soil organic matter dynamics using NanoSIMS - from single particles to intact aggregates. Organic Geochemistry 42 (2012), pp. 1476-1488
Mueller CW, Kölbl A, Höschen C, Hillion F, Heister K, Herrmann AM, Kögel- Knabner I
