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Prof. Ruben Kretzschmar


The research and teaching activities of the group aim at an improved mechanistic and quantitative understanding of processes that control the mobility, bioavailability, and cycling of essential and potentially toxic trace elements in terrestrial environments (e.g., Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr, As, Hg). This requires a combined approach using multiple analytical techniques in field studies, laboratory studies with soils under controlled environmental conditions, as well as experiments with simplified model systems. Advanced analytical techniques used by the group include synchrotron X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy, scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and micro-spectroscopy, ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy, and others. The group has also developed an active research programme in collaboration with the Isotope Geochemistry Group of ETH Zurich to explore the use of non-traditional stable isotopes as novel tracers for the environmental behaviour and cycling of the respective elements or as tracers for chemical weathering processes (e.g., Fe, Ca, Li, Hg).

News Feed

   
hindshaw_biogeochem_2012
April 19, 2012

Field study at the Damma glacier reveals species- and age-dependent Ca isotope fractionation by alpine plants.

Hindshaw, R.S., Reynolds, B.C., Wiederhold, J.G., Kiczka, M., Kretzschmar, R., and Bourdon, B. (2012): Calcium isotope fractionation in alpine plants. Biogeochemistry. (published online April 19).

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10533-012-9732-1

Brechbuhl_JCIS_2012
March 19, 2012

Carbonate is capable of remobilizing arsenic from hematite surfaces.

Brechbühl, Y., Christl, I., Elzinga, E.J., and Kretzschmar, R. (2012): Competitive Sorption of Carbonate and Arsenic to Hematite: Combined ATR-FTIR and Batch Experiments.  J. Colloid Interface Sci. (published online March 19).

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2012.03.025

smittenberg_GlobChBiol_2012
March 2, 2012

Carbon dynamics of glacier forefield sensitive to climate changes.

Smittenberg, R.H., Gierga, M., Göransson, H., Christl, I., Farinotti, D., Bernasconi, S.M. (2012): Climate-sensitive ecosystem carbon dynamics along the soil chronosequence of the Damma glacier forefield, Switzerland. Global Change Biology. (published online March 2).

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2012.02654.x

christl_envchem_2012
February 23, 2012

Calcium binding by humic acids is primarily controlled by electrostatic forces and specific binding to carboxylic groups.

Christl, I. (2012): Ionic strength- and pH-dependence of calcium binding by terrestrial humic acids. Environ. Chem. 9: 89-96.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/EN11112

SnowFun_2012
February 3-5, 2012

Snow and Fun in Lenzerheide

Accompanied by some of our visitors from Tübingen and former group members we had three nice days of skiing, snowboarding and snowshoe trekking in the beautiful mountains of Lenzerheide. To the left you see some ambitious skiers, who rode the slopes despite the arctic weather with temperatures down to -25°C.

Tuebingen_meeting_022012
February 1-2, 2012

Soil Chemistry meets Geomicrobiology -Part III

The third time we met Tübingens geomicrobiologists. During two days we had great presentations given by Dr. C. Schröder, Dr. S. Behrens, Dr. A. Picard, A. Piepenbrock, E. Melton (University of Tübingen) and Y. Brechbühl, M. Hoffmann, M. Jiskra (ETH Zurich) and a vaudois dinner in the evening. Special guest was D. Macalady (Colorado School of Mines) who's visiting professor in Tübingen. He gave a presentation about the effect of sample origins and histories on the oxidation/reduction properties of natural organic matter.    

defense_laurie_2012
January 27, 2012

Congratulations Laurie!

Laurie Pesch defended her PhD thesis today. You see here on the left surrounded by her examination committee Prof. S. Krämer (University of Vienna), Prof. R. Kretzschmar (ETH Zurich), Dr. I. Christl (ETH Zurich) and Prof. A. Stone (Johns Hopkins University)after passing the traditional Soil Chemistry PhD exam.

christl_GeomicJou_2011
December 7, 2011

Dissolved organic Cr(III)-complexes are major products of aerobic Cr(VI)-reduction by Pseudomonas corrugata 28.

Christl, I., Imseng, M., Tatti, E., Frommer, J., Viti, C., Giovannetti, L., and Kretzschmar, R. (2012): Aerobic reduction of chromium(VI) by Pseudomonas corrugata 28: Influence of metabolism and fate of reduced chromium. Geomicrobiol. J. 29: 173-185.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2010.539662

langner_ngeo_2011
November 27, 2011

Spectroscopic study reveals the mechanism of arsenic binding to natural organic matter in wetlands.
Langner, P., Mikutta, C., and Kretzschmar, R.: Arsenic sequestration by organic sulphur in peat. Nature Geoscience 5: 66-73.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/NGEO1329

jaquat_JSGeo_2011
November 26, 2011

Spectroscopic investigations point to origin of Zn in Jurassic limestone.

Jacquat, O., Rambeau, C., Voegelin, A., Efimenko, N., Villard, A., Föllmi, K. B., and Kretzschmar, R.: Origin of high Zn contents in Jurassic limestone of the Jura mountain range and the Burgundy: evidence from Zn speciation and distribution. Swiss Journal of Geosciences 104: 409-424.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00015-011-0086-9

mikutta_est_2011
October 10, 2011

New study provides the first spectroscopic evidence for ternary complex formation between As(V) and Fe(III)-HS complexes.
Mikutta, C., and Kretzschmar, R.: Spectroscopic evidence for ternary complex formation between arsenate and ferric iron complexes of humic substances. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45: 9550-9557.


http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es202300w

Jessica_SchefferPreis_2011
September 6, 2011

Jessica Dittmar received Fritz Scheffer Award

During the biannual meeting of the German Soil Science Society (DBG) in Berlin, our former PhD student Dr. Jessica Dittmar received the prestigious Fritz-Scheffer Award for her PhD thesis “Seasonal arsenic cycling in irrigated paddy soils in Bangladesh and arsenic uptake by rice”.  Jessica presented her PhD research in a plenary talk and then received the certificate from DBG president Prof. Dr. Rainer Horn.

hiking_2011
August 26-28, 2011

Alpstein Hiking

This years hiking weekend took us to the Alpstein massif, the northernmost alpine mountains in switzerland. On the last day we climbed the highest point in this region, mount Säntis (2502m; see picture). To the left you see the soil chemistry hikers: Martin J., Martin H., Laurie, Iso, Felix, Jan, Kurt, Beate, Anke and Ruben. 

FIMIN_2011_2
August 7-11, 2011

EAG/FIMIN workshop in Tübingen, Germany

Ruben and colleagues from the University of Tübingen (Germany) and Colorado State University (USA) organized a Short Course entitled “Tools in Environmental Biogeochemistry - Opportunities and Limitations”. The course was attended by 20 PhD students from five different countries. Leading experts in the field introduced the students to a variety of advanced analytical techniques, including Mössbauer spectroscopy, SEM/FIB, microelectrodes, and synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy and microscopy. The course included a full-day visit at the synchrotron ANKA (Karlsruhe) and ended with a Stocherkahn trip on the river Neckar in Tübingen.

Link to FIMIN homepage

huang_EST_2011_2
August 5, 2011

Microbial reduction of adsorbed As(V) is strongly affected by bacteria-mineral interactions promoting As(V) desorption.
Huang, J.-H., Voegelin, A., Pombo, S.A., Lazzaro, A., Zeyer, J., and Kretzschmar, R. (2011): Influence of arsenate adsorption to ferrihydrite, goethite, and boehmite on the kinetics of arsenate reduction by Shewanella putrefaciens strain CN-32. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45: 7701-7709.


http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es201503g

Bernasconi_JVZ_2011
August 1, 2011

Multidisciplinary research at the Damma Glacier forefield: The project BigLink
Bernasconi, S.M. and 39 other authors (2011): Chemical and biological gradients along the Damma Glacier soil chronosequence, Switzerland. Vadose Zone J. 10, 867-883.

http://dx.doi.org/10.2136/vzj2010.0129

kiczka_GCA_2011
July 18, 2011

New study shows how stable Fe isotopes are fractionated during biotite/chlorite weathering in a granitic glacier forefield.

Kiczka, M., Wiederhold, J.G., Frommer, J., Voegelin, A., Kraemer, S.M., Bourdon, B., and Kretzschmar, R. (2011): Iron speciation and isotope fractionation during silicate weathering and soil formation in an alpine glacier forefield chronosequence. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 75: 5559-5573

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2011.07.008

Mikutta_gca_2011
June 13, 2011

New EXAFS study systematically demonstrates the influence of different hydrobenzoic acids on the formation and structure of ferrihydrite formed during Fe(III) polymerization

Mikutta, C.: X-ray absorption spectroscopy study on the effect of hydroxybenzoic acids on the formation and structure of ferrihydrite. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 75: 5122-5139

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2011.06.002

Ruth_defense_2011
June 8, 2011

Congratulations Ruth!

Ruth Hindshaw defended her PhD thesis today. She is pictured here with her beautiful doctoral hat on the PhD apéro. Her thesis “Chemical weathering and calcium isotope fractionation in a glaciated catchment” was conducted within the interdisciplinary project BigLink.

Dresden_weekend_2011
May 27-29, 2011

Cultural trip to Dresden

The soil chemistry culture vultures (see picture: Beate, Charlotte, Laurie, Martin H., Felix, Iso, Lauren, Robin and Anke) enjoyed three days in the capital of Saxony with a nice sightseeing tour, opera and museum visits and a lot of good food! On the last day we relaxed on a hike in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains.

hindshaw_chemgeol_2011
April 27, 2011

Systematic investigations of seasonal
and diurnal variations in stream water chemistry of the Damma glacier forefield

Hindshaw, R.S., Tipper, E.T., Reynolds, B.C., Lemarchand, E., Wiederhold, J.G., Magnusson, J., Bernasconi, S.M., Kretzschmar, R., and Bourdon, B.: Hydrological control of stream water chemistry in a glacial catchment (Damma Glacier, Switzerland). Chemical Geology, 285: 215-230

http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2011.04.012

sampling_new_idria_2011
April 26-27, 2011

New Idria revisited

Ruben, Robin, Peggy, and our collaborators from Stanford University returned to New Idria in April for soil sampling around the historic mercury mine. On the picture, we are not panning for gold nuggets, but for elemental mercury in the creek!

FIMIN_2011
March 6-11, 2011

FIMIN Spring School in Cordoba, Spain

Ruben and colleagues from the FIMIN network taught a Spring School on “Iron in the Environment - From Nature to the Laboratory”. One of the highlights was the excursion to Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest acid mine drainage sites. Information about future FIMIN events can be found on the FIMIN website

Link to FIMIN homepage

huang_EST_2011
March 04, 2011

Does EPS affect the sorption of arsenic on Fe(III)-(hydr)oxides?

Huang, J.-H., Elzinga, E.J., Brechbuehl, Y., Voegelin, A., and Kretzschmar, R.: Impacts of Shewanella putrefaciens strain CN-32 cells and extracellular polymeric substances on the sorption of As(V) and As(III) on Fe(III)-(hydr)oxides. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45: 2804–2810

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es103978r

pesch_GeoTrans_2011
February 07, 2011

Two-step purification procedure to isolate Cu-free methanobactin

Pesch, M.-L., Christl, I., Barmettler, K., Kraemer, S.M., Kretzschmar, R.: Isolation and purification of Cu-free methanobactin from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. Geochem. Trans. 12:2

http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1467-4866-12-2

degryse_soilsci_2010
December 17, 2010

Quantification of 'labile' zinc in soils: New insights from combining methods

Degryse, F., Voegelin, A., Jacquat, O., Kretzschmar, R., and Smolders, E.: Characterization of zinc in contaminated soils: Complementary insights from isotopic exchange, batch extractions, and XAFS spectroscopy. Europ. J. Soil Sci., 62: 318–330

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2389.2010.01332.x

roberts_EST_2010
December 17, 2010

Intermittent irrigation may be a promising means of reducing arsenic input to paddy soils

Roberts, L.C., Hug, S.J., Voegelin, A., Dittmar, J., Kretzschmar, R., Wehrli, B., Saha, G.C., Badruzzaman, A.B.M., Ali, M.A.: Arsenic dynamics in porewater of an intermittently irrigated paddy field in Bangladesh. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45: 971–976

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es102882q

huang_SoilWatAirPoll_2011
December 15, 2010

New review article by Jen-How Huang and coauthors on organic arsenic species

Huang, J.-H., Hu, K.-N., and Decker, B. (2011): Organic arsenic in the soil environment: Speciation, occurrence, transformation, and adsorption behavior. Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 219:401–415.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0716-2

sampling_new_idria_2010
December 13, 2010

First sampling in New Idria

In December Ruben, Jan, Robin and and some people of Gordon Brown's group (Stanford University) went to California for a sampling at the now-inoperative mercury mine in New Idria. They want to investigate the fractionation mechanisms of Hg isotopes in soils and plants. On the left side you see a picture of Robin at work. 

voegelin_EST_2010
December 9, 2010

Contamination source phases influence the formation of new Zn species in soils

Voegelin, A., Jacquat, O., Pfister, S., Barmettler, K., Scheinost, A.C., and Kretzschmar, R. (2011): Time-dependent changes of Zn-speciation in four soils contaminated with zincite or sphalerite. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45: 255–261

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es101189d

frommer_soilsc_2010
December 3, 2010

A micro-focused XAS study reveals the distribution of As, Fe, and Mn around rice roots

Frommer, J., Voegelin, A., Dittmar, J., Marcus, M., and Kretzschmar, R.: Biogeochemical processes and As enrichment around rice roots in paddy soil: Results from bulk and micro-focused X-ray spectroscopies. Europ. J. Soil Sci., 62: 305–317

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2389.2010.01328.x

DSC01148
November 12, 2010

Discussion about arsenic accumulations in rice

The british Emerging Health Threats Forum published a nice article about accumulations of arsenic in rice which is based on our ES&T paper from March 2010. They discussed and commented our results together with several international environmental scientists.

EHTF News: Rice arsenic levels set to double

dittmar_EST_2010_2
November 2, 2010

New field and pot studies on As uptake by wetland rice

Dittmar, J., Voegelin, A., Maurer, F., Roberts, L.C., F., Hug, S.J., Saha, G.C., Ali, M.A., Badruzzaman, A.B.M., and Kretzschmar, R.: Arsenic in soil and irrigation water affects As uptake by rice: Complementary insights from field and pot studies. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44: 8842–8848
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es101962d

hindshaw_GCA_2010
October 8, 2010

Fractionation of calcium isotopes during the initial stages of weathering

Hindshaw, R.S., Reynolds, B.C., Wiederhold, J.G., Kretzschmar, R., and Bourdon, B.: Calcium isotopes in a proglacial weathering environment: Damma glacier, Switzerland. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 75: 106-118

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2010.09.038

hiking_weekend_2010
September 24-26, 2010

Hiking in Ticino

The annually hiking weekend ouf our group took us 1,704 m above sea level on top of Monte Generoso. There we enjoyed the overwhelming scenery over Lugano, the Swiss Alps and Po Valley. To the left is a picture of the soil chemistry hikers: Martin J., Felix, Martin H., Beate, Laurie, Kurt and Charlotte. 

Tubingen_meeting_092010
September 9-10, 2010

Return visit in Tübingen:
Geomicrobiology meets Soil Chemistry - Part II

Again, we had a great series of talks during two days presented by Dr. S. Behrens, Dr. C. Schmidt, U. Dippon, F. Hegler (University of Tübingen) and Dr. I. Christl, Dr. P. Mandaliev, Dr. J. Weinhold, B. Fulda (ETH Zurich). In the evening we were invited to Andreas Kappler's home for a typical Swabian dinner. Another highlight was a "Stocherkahnfahrt" on the beautiful river Neckar.

Mirjam_defense_2010
September 3, 2010

Congratulations Mirjam!

Mirjam Kiczka-Cyriac defended her PhD thesis today. She is pictured here with her examination committee Prof. W. Wilcke (University of Bern), Dr. J. Wiederhold (ETH Zurich), Prof. R. Kretzschmar (ETH Zurich) and Prof. S. Krämer (University of Vienna) (Prof. Bourdon (ETH Zurich) is unfortunately missing) after passing the Soil Chemistry graduation ceremony.

frommer_AmMin_2010
August 2, 2010

XAS study about the structure of Fe(III)-Cr(III)-oxyhydroxides

Frommer, J., Nachtegaal, M., Czekaj, I., and Kretzschmar, R. (2010): The Cr X-ray absorption K-edge structure of poorly crystalline Fe(III)-Cr(III)-oxyhydroxides. Am. Mineralog. 95, 1202–1213
http://dx.doi.org/10.2138/am.2010.3274

kiczka_EST_2010
July 26, 2010

How iron isotopes fractionate during uptake by plants

Kiczka, M., Wiederhold, J.G., Kraemer, S.M., Bourdon, B., and Kretzschmar, R. (2010): Iron isotope fractionation during Fe uptake and translocation in alpine plants. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44: 6144–6150
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es100863b

maurer_EST_2010
July 2, 2010

Reduction of humic acid increase the amount of proton-reactive sites of humic acid

Maurer, F., Christl, I., and Kretzschmar, R. (2010): Reduction and reoxidation of humic acid: Influence on spectroscopic properties and proton binding. Env. Sci. Technol. 44: 5787–5792
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es100594t

Mikutta_gca_2010
June 30, 2010

How small organic molecules affect the structure of ferrihydrite

Mikutta, C., Frommer, J., Voegelin, A, Kaegi, R., and Kretzschmar, R. (2010): Effect of citrate on the local Fe coordination in ferrihydrite, arsenate binding, and ternary arsenate complex formation. Cosmochim. Geochim. Acta 74: 5574-5592
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2010.06.024

Huang_AnalChem_2010
June 4, 2010

New sequential extraction method for speciation of arsenic

Huang, J.-H., and Kretzschmar, R. (2010): Sequential extraction method for speciation of arsenate and arsenite in mineral soils. Anal. Chem. 82: 5534–5540
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac100415b

Wiederhold_EST_2010
May 5, 2010

News about mercury isotope fractionation

Wiederhold, J.G., Cramer, C.J., Daniel, K., Infante, I., Bourdon, B., and Kretzschmar, R. (2010): Equilibrium mercury isotope fractionation between dissolved Hg(II) species and thiol-bound Hg. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44: 4191-4197
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es100205t

Dittmar_EST_2010
March 17, 2010

New publication in Bangladesh arsenic project

Dittmar, J., Voegelin, A., Roberts, L.C., Hug, S.J., Saha, G.C., Ali, M.A., Badruzzaman, A.B.M., and Kretzschmar, R. (2010): Arsenic accumulation in a paddy field in Bangladesh: Seasonal dynamics and trends over a three-year monitoring period. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44: 2925-2931.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es903117r

kiczka_GCA_2010
February 23, 2010

New publication on iron isotope fractionation during dissolution processes

Kiczka, M., Wiederhold, J.G., Frommer, J., Kraemer S.M., Bourdon, B., Kretzschmar, R. (2010): Iron isotope fractionation during proton- and ligand-promoted dissolution of primary phyllosilicates . Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 74: 3112-3128
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.gca.2010.02.018

Tubingen_meeting_022010
February 11-12, 2010

Soil Chemistry meets Geomicrobiology

The last two days a interdisciplinary meeting of our group and the geomicrobiology group of the University of Tübingen was held. Presentations were given by Dr. J.-H. Huang, P. Langner, F. Maurer, A. Hofacker (ETH Zurich) and Dr. M. Obst, C. Hohmann, P. Sharma, M. Emmerich (University of Tübingen). In the evening we enjoyed a delicious cheese-fondue at Zurich's Chäsalp.

scheffer_bodenkunde_2010
January, 2010

Soil Science "Bible" newly released

16th edition of "Scheffer/Schachtschabel - Lehrbuch der Bodenkunde" is released with a fully revised 5th chapter ("Chemische Eigenschaften und Prozesse") by R. Kretzschmar

http://www.springerlink.com/content/n75v13/

est_01_2010
January 1, 2010

ES&T focus issue on Biogeochemical Redox Processes released

Edited by associate editor Ruben Kretzschmar and several guest editors.

http://pubs.acs.org/toc/esthag/44/1

Borch_EST_2009
December 14, 2009

Borch et al. Critical Review on Biogeochemical Redox Processes and their Impact on Contaminant Dynamics

Borch, T., Kretzschmar, R., Kappler, A., Van Cappellen, Ph., Ginder-Vogel, M., Voegelin, A., and Campbell, K. (2010): Biogeochemical redox processes and their impact on contaminant dynamics. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44: 15-23

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es9026248

Roberts_NGEO_2009
December 13, 2009

Roberts et al. As release from paddy soils during monsoon flooding counteracts long-term As accumulation in rice fields

Roberts, L.C., Hug, S.J., Dittmar, J., Voegelin, A., Kretzschmar, R., Wehrli, B., Cirpka, O., Saha, G.C., Ali, M.A., and Badruzzaman, A.B.M. (2010): Arsenic mobilization from paddy soils during monsoon flooding. Nature Geosci. 3: 53-59

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ngeo723

Weber_EST_2009
November 18, 2009

Weber et. al. on the mobilization of As during Fe and As reduction in a floodplain soil

Weber, F.-A., Hofacker, A.F., Voegelin, A., and Kretzschmar, R. (2010): Temperature dependence and coupling of iron and arsenic reduction and release during flooding of a contaminated soil. Env. Sci. Technol. 44: 116-122

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es902100h

 

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