Department of Reactive Transport
In the Reactive Transport Department we study the heterogeneity of material surface reactivity, including sorption and dissolution reactions and material degradation. We use experimental and numerical methods to quantify and predict surface reaction rates using rate maps. Transport in complex porous materials is another important aspect of our work. We develop conservative and reactive radionuclide tracers using our cyclotron laboratory and apply positron emission tomography (PET). We use and develop numerical methods for transport analysis at the pore scale and above. Our research is motivated and driven by applications in nuclear safety research and we provide critical links to earth, environmental and materials sciences.
Latest publication
Follow me: Mechanistic insights into Eu(III) uptake, translocation and speciation in hydroponically grown Sand oat (Avena strigosa)
Klotzsche, M.; Drobot, B.; Schymura, S.; Vogel, M.; Raff, J.; Stumpf, T.; Steudtner, R.
Abstract
As rare earth elements gain strategic importance, knowledge of their environmental pathways becomes increasingly needed. In particular, mechanistic insight into plant uptake of rare earth elements informs both risk assessment and mitigation strategies in case of environmental contaminations and modern green applications such as biomining. In this study, we addressed the mobility, speciation and deposition of Eu(III), serving as surrogate for trivalent lanthanides, within the Poaceae Sand oat (Avena strigosa) from both microscopic and macroscopic perspectives. Using hydroponic bioassociation and extraction experiments, we tracked the metal’s pathway within the plant. A combination of (micro)spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques, mass spectrometry, autoradiography and iterative factor analysis enabled us to develop a comprehensive understanding of Eu(III) speciation and its influence on translocation of lanthanides within plants. The results show that Eu(III) is absorbed by epidermal cells and root tips, but predominantly the apoplast, in which Eu(III) is subjected to cell wall binding and phosphate precipitation. Internalized Eu(III) is bound to organophosphate ligands in the cell interior. Xylem loading occurs within less than one hour and translocation to the shoots is achieved by complexes with oxalate, citrate and malate. The use of radioactive 152Eu(III) as tracer revealed that the majority of the metal remains in the roots, while a minor portion is deposited uniformly in the non-vascular tissue of both young and mature leaf lamina. These findings advance our mechanistic comprehension of rare earth element transport, the chemical binding environments encountered in plants and lay the foundation for environmental risk assessments and phytomanagement for metal-enriched areas.
Keywords: Chemical microscopy; Autoradiography; Hydroponics; Bioassociation; Xylem sap; Rare earth elements; Laser spectroscopy; Liquid chromatography; Phytoremediation; Plants
Related publications
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Data publication: Follow me: Mechanistic insights into Eu(III) uptake …
ROBIS: 41086 HZDR-primary research data are used by this (Id 41428) publication -
Data publication: Follow me: Mechanistic insights into Eu(III) uptake …
RODARE: 3627 HZDR-primary research data are used by this (Id 41428) publication
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Science of the Total Environment 988(2025), 179849
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179849
Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-41428
Team
Head/ Administration | |||||
Name | Bld./Office | +49 351 260 | Position/Tasks | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Prof. Dr. Cornelius Fischer | L9.3/212 | 4660 | c.fischer![]() | Head of Department | |
Katrin Gerstner | L9.3/217 | 4601 | k.gerstner![]() | Secretary's office / Administration Reactive Transport / Experimental Neurooncological Radiopharmacy | |
Nadja Pedrosa Gil | L9.3/221 | 4690 | n.pedrosa-gil![]() | Business administration Reactive Transport Business administration Experimental Neurooncological Radiopharmacy | |
Employees | |||||
Name | Bld./Office | +49 351 260 | Position/Tasks | ||
Sieglinde Holzknecht | L9.3/222 | 4664 | s.holzknecht![]() | PhD Student | |
Dr. Johannes Kulenkampff | L9.3/202 | 4663 | j.kulenkampff![]() | Research Scientist | |
Dr. Marcel Lindemann | L9.3/318 | 4671 | m.lindemann![]() | Research Scientist | |
Dr. habil. Holger Lippold | L9.3/401 | 4672 | h.lippold![]() | Research Scientist | |
Jing Liu | L9.3/211 | 4692 | j.liu![]() | PhD Student | |
Dagmar Lösel | L9.3/402 | 4673 | d.loesel![]() | Laboratory technician | |
Jann Schöngart | L9.3/222 | 4658 | j.schoengart![]() | PhD Student | |
Claudia Schößler | L9.3/402 | 4674 | c.schoessler![]() | Chemical laboratory technician | |
Other employees | |||||
Name | Bld./Office | +49 351 260 | Position/Tasks | ||
Dr. Karsten Franke | L9.3/318 | 4629 | k.franke![]() | Research Associate |