Contact

Dr. Johannes Raff

Head Biogeochemistry
j.raffAthzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 2951

Department of Biogeochemistry

Research

In the environment physical, chemical and biological processes influence the migration behavior of long-lived radionuclides (RN). In the biosphere mainly prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms are involved in element cycles and the mobilization or immobilization of many radioactive and non-radioactive elements. Furthermore, their physiology and biochemistry are optimized to allow them to live and survive in almost all environments existing on earth even over long periods of time. Besides that, the interaction of radionuclides with microbes and higher organisms determine the fate of the radionuclides in nature and in the end their potential threat to human health. The aim of the research in the Department of Biogeochemistry is to identify dominating processes in the ecosphere including the food chain, to understand the biochemistry of the processes on a molecular level and to estimate their relevance for the radionuclide migration and transfer not only in nature but also in an engineered subsurface e.g. a deep-geological repository for radioactive waste. Beside the fundamental research it is also intended to generate thermodynamic data to improve the safety assessment modelling.

Current research topics

Working fields of the departement of biogeochemistry at the Institute of Resource Ecology (EN) ©Copyright: Dr. Matschiavelli, Nicole
  • Determination of the microbial diversity in water and soil environments contaminated with heavy metals and radionuclides as well as in different host rocks for potential radioactive waste disposals
  • Microbe-radionuclide-interactions with reference strains and isolates
  • Interaction of eukaryotic cells with radionuclides and lanthanides in particular with plants, fungi, sponges and algae
  • Investigation of the interaction of selected bioligands and model compounds with f-elements
  • Characterization of microbial processes affecting the conditions in deep geological repositories for radioactive waste (e.g. transformation of bentonite as barrier material)
  • Calculation and determination of the metal speciation relevant to the environment
  • Verification and validation of transport models
  • Characterization of particles in the environment relevant to the transport of radionuclides
  • Investigation of the transport processes of radionuclides by particles (including microbes) in natural water

Latest Publication

Preface: State of the art in mineral exploration

Alcalde, J.; Carbonell, R.; Pospiech, S.; Gil, A.; Bullock, L. A.; Tornos, F.

Minerals that comprise raw materials for energy, metal, construction and other industrial applications are considered strategic commodities, fundamental in stock markets worldwide, and key ingredients to sustain our ever more technology-based society (Wellmer et al., 2019). The utilization of such economically important minerals has shown a continued steady increase since the early twentieth century, with a greater focus in recent years on resources required for the development of renewable technologies, such as wind and solar operations, and for electrification of domestic and transportation systems (e.g. concrete, aluminium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, zinc or rare earths) (Meinert et al., 2016). As our society ramps up the global transition to low-carbon energies and a reduced reliance on fossil fuels, the inevitable rise in consumption and demand for a more diverse range of resources can only be facilitated through increasingly novel methods of mineral exploration (Ali et al., 2017).

Keywords: mineral exploration; state of the art; geophysics; geochemistry; geology; remote sensing; critical raw materials

Experimental methods

  • Spectroscopy: LIFS (TRLFS, LIPAS); continuous wave fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-vis-NIR, XAS, Raman, ATR-FT-IR, NMR
  • Molecular biology (DNA extraction, PCR, Sanger sequencing, Next Generation Sequencing, heterologous expression of proteins)
  • Aerobic and anaerobic lab-scale cultivation of microorganisms in bioreactors (1-50 L)
  • Plant cell cultivation
  • Cell disruption in small and large volumes (mixer mill, ultra-sonic disruption, bead ruptor, high pressure homogenizer)
  • Microscopy: CLSM, REM, TEM, AFM, light and fluorescence microscopy
  • Chromatography: HPLC, FPLC
  • Protein biochemistry (isolation and characterization)

Projects

  • MIND, EU project, grant agreement No 661880, duration 01.06.2015 – 31.05.2019
  • BioVeStRa, BMBF support code 02S9276A, duration 01.06.2016-31.05.2019
  • CONCERT: European Joint Programme for the Integration of Radiation Protection Research; EC-Project grant agreement No 662287, duration 2015 -2020
  • TransAqua, BMBF support code 02NUK030F, duration 01.06.2013-30.11.2017
  • UMB project, BMWI support code 02E11344B, duration 01.04.2015-31.12.2017
  • BioNEWS, BMBF support code 03WKCL03F, duration 01.01.2015-31.12.2017
  • TRANS-LARA, BMBF support code 02NUK051B, duration 01.09.2017-28.02.2021
  • iCROSS, HGF/BMBF support codes SO-093 and 02NUK053B, duration 01.07.2018-30.06.2021
  • RadoNorm: Towards effective radiation protection based on improved scientific evidence and social considerations - focus on radon and NORM; EC Project, grant agreement No. 900009, 01.09.2020-31.08.2025
  • EURAD-MAGIC – NEA/EU-Projekt, duration 01.06.2019-31.05.2024
  • Ultrasens (WIPANO), BMWi support code 03THWSN004, duration 01.07.2020-31.10.2021
  • UMB II, BMWi support code 02E11870B, duration 01.01.2021-31.12.2023
  • EURAD-ConCorD – NEA/EU project, duration 01.06.2021-31.05.2024
  • RENA/ BMBF support code 02NUK066A, duration 01.09.2021-31.08.2024
  • PepTight/BMBFsupport code 031B1122A, duration 01.09.2021-31.08.2024

Staff

For more information, move the cursor over the images or click the persons image!

FWOB Katrin Flemming Dr. Susanne Sachs Dr. Andrea Cherkouk Jenny Jessat Stephan Hilpmann Dr. Evelyn Krawczyk-Bärsch Dr. Alix Günther Dr. Nicole Matschiavelli Dr. Poulami Mandal Dr. Henry Moll Sindy Kluge Björn Drobot Vladyslav Sushko Sylvia Heller Dr. Johannes Raff

Head

NameBld./Office+49 351 260Email
Dr. Johannes Raff801/P3142951
j.raffAthzdr.de

Employees

NameBld./Office+49 351 260Email
Dr. Björn Drobot801/P3172895
b.drobotAthzdr.de
Katrin Flemming801/P3092958
k.flemmingAthzdr.de
Dr. Alix Günther801/P2562433
2522
a.guentherAthzdr.de
Klemens Kirsch801/P3063241
k.kirschAthzdr.de
Max Klotzsche801/P3063241
m.klotzscheAthzdr.de
Dr. Evelyn Krawczyk-Bärsch801/P2522076
e.krawczyk-baerschAthzdr.de
Dr. Henry Moll801/P2562433
2549
h.mollAthzdr.de
Dr. Susanne Sachs801/P2082436
s.sachsAthzdr.de
Jana Seibt801/P2193194
2510
j.seibtAthzdr.de
Dr. Robin Steudtner801/P3172895
r.steudtnerAthzdr.de

MICRONUC

NameBld./Office+49 351 260Email
Dr. Andrea Cherkouk801/P3562989
a.cherkoukAthzdr.de
Stephan Hilpmann801/P3062860
s.hilpmannAthzdr.de

Contact

Dr. Johannes Raff

Head Biogeochemistry
j.raffAthzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 2951