A5084627683- Soil and Unsaturated Flow
- Groundwater flow and contamination studies
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
- Clay minerals and soil interactions
- Iron oxide chemistry and applications
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
- Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry
- Arsenic contamination and mitigation
- Radioactive element chemistry and processing
- CO2 Sequestration and Geologic Interactions
- Heavy metals in environment
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Concrete and Cement Materials Research
- Plant Micronutrient Interactions and Effects
- Geological formations and processes
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Geological and Geophysical Studies Worldwide
- Silicon Effects in Agriculture
- Geological and Geophysical Studies
- Building materials and conservation
- Trace Elements in Health
University of Bern
2021-2024
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
2015
ETH Zurich
2010-2012
University of Vienna
2010
Soils are the product of a complex suite chemical, biological, and physical processes. In spite importance soils for society sustaining life on earth, our knowledge soil formation rates influence biological activity mineral weathering geochemical cycles is still limited. this paper we provide description Damma Glacier Critical Zone Observatory present first synthesis multidisciplinary studies 150‐yr chronosequence. The aim research was to improve understanding ecosystem development barren...
A recently completed deep drilling campaign, comprising 9 boreholes penetrating the Mesozoic sedimentary sequence of northern Switzerland, yielded >6 km drillcore. One main objectives was to characterise low-permeability with lower Jurassic Opalinus Clay in its centre, motivated by site selection for a geological repository radioactive waste. In this context, chemical and isotopic composition porewater, as well mineralogical petrophysical properties rocks, were among study targets. paper,...
The potential of stable Fe isotopes as a tracer for the biogeochemical cycle depends on understanding and quantification fractionation processes involved. Iron uptake cycling by plants may influence speciation in soils. Here, we determined isotopic composition different plant parts including complete root system three alpine species (Oxyria digyna, Rumex scutatus, Agrostis gigantea) granitic glacier forefield, which allowed us, first time, to distinguish between in-plant processes. overall...
Argillaceous rocks are foreseen in many countries as the potential hosts for nuclear waste repositories. The knowledge of chemical composition free porewater these formations is required understanding paleo-hydrogeological evolution, assessment radionuclide solubilities and migration parameters assessing long-term stability technical barrier system. High pressure squeezing advective displacement two methods that aim at direct sampling this fraction while minimizing experimental artefacts....
Abstract Microscopic and spectroscopic analyses were conducted on steel/bentonite interface samples removed from four in situ experiments that carried out three underground research laboratories at different temperatures under hydraulic geochemical conditions. The results provide valuable information about the corrosion processes occurring high‐level radioactive waste repositories. Systematic patterns can be deduced results, irrespective of carbon steel grade, type bentonite its degree...
The Jurassic clay-rich sedimentary sequence in northern Switzerland was investigated the context of nuclear waste disposal. Tracer profiles across this play an important role when assessing transport processes and long-term evolution environment. Negatively charged clay-mineral surfaces cause a depletion anions porewater close to compared free further away. chloride accessible porosity fraction (fCl) is parameter scale Cl bulk concentrations from aqueous extraction concentrations, which are...
The knowledge of cation exchange parameters is important to understand and model the porewater chemistry in clayrocks. Opalinus Clay (OPA) a well-studied formation view its importance as host rock for radioactive waste repositories, but uncertainties exist regarding parameters, particular selectivity coefficients (Kc). In fact, models OPA have so far been based on generic coefficients. Thanks recent extensive siting programme, involving eight vertical deep boreholes northern Switzerland,...
Microbial sulfate reduction possesses a potential risk for the long-term safety of spent nuclear fuel repositories because under expected repository conditions sulfide is main corroding agent copper and copper-coated steel canisters foreseen in Scandinavian disposal concepts. It thus essential to understand quantify processes factors impacting microbial production within around compacted bentonite, which planned be used as buffer material many In present study reactive transport modelling...
The evolution of steel/bentonite interfaces in engineered barrier systems radioactive waste disposal is governed by the corrosion steel and interaction products with bentonite. In early post-closure phase repository, transition from aerobic to anaerobic combination evolving temperature conditions chemical gradients due hydration bentonite take place. situ tests underground laboratories provide a high degree representativeness for transient interfaces. Complex Fe-bentonite patterns have been...