Contact

Porträt Prof. Dr. Fischer, Cornelius; FWOT

Prof. Dr. Cornelius Fischer

Head of Department
Reactive Transport
c.fischerAthzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 4660

Katrin Gerstner

Secretary Reactive Transport / Neuroradiopharmaceuticals
Research Site Leipzig
k.gerstnerAthzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 4601

Nadja Pedrosa Gil

Business administration Reactive Transport
Business administration Neuroradiopharmaceuticals
n.pedrosa-gilAthzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 4690

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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.

Foto: PET scan of a drill core with <sup>22</sup>Na diffusion  ©Copyright: PD Dr. Cornelius Fischer

Latest Publication

Numerical modeling and simulation of microbially induced calcite precipitation on a cement surface at the pore scale

Yuan, T.; Cherkouk, A.; Fischer, C.

Abstract

Accurate estimation of contaminant transport in cementitious material using numerical tools plays a key role in the risk assessments of nuclear waste disposal. At the pore scale, the increase of microbial activity, such as microbially induced calcite precipitation on cementitious material, causes changes in solid surface topography, pore network geometry, and pore water chemistry, which affect contaminant transport at the core scale and beyond. Consequently, a meaningful estimation of contaminant migration in the subsurface requires a pore-scale investigation of the influence of microbial activity on transport processes. In this study, a pore-scale reactive transport model is presented to simulate the physicochemical processes resulting from microbially induced calcite precipitation on a cement surface. Numerical investigations focus on modeling the reactive transport in a two-dimensional flow-through cell. The model results are validated by experimental data showing an increase in pH and a decrease in calcium concentration due to microbially induced calcite precipitation. Our results show heterogeneous calcite precipitation under transport-limited conditions and homogeneous calcite precipitation under reaction-limited conditions, resulting in non-uniform and uniform changes in the material surface topography. Moreover, power spectral density analysis of the surface data demonstrates that microbially induced calcite precipitation affects the surface topography via both general changes over the entire frequency and local modifications in the high-frequency region. The sensitivity studies provide a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of surface topography due to the microbially induced calcite precipitation at the pore scale, thus contributing to an improved predictability of contaminant transport at the core scale and beyond.

Keywords: microbial-induced calcite precipitation; pore-scale reactive transport modeling; contaminant transport; cementitious material; nuclear waste disposal

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-39256

Team

Foto: Gruppenbild der Abteilung

Reactive Transport

Head/ Administration

NameBld./Office+49 351 260EmailPosition/Tasks
Fischer Prof. Dr., CorneliusL9.3/2124660
c.fischerAthzdr.deHead of Department
Gerstner, KatrinL9.3/2174601
k.gerstnerAthzdr.deSecretary Reactive Transport / Neuroradiopharmaceuticals
Research Site Leipzig
Pedrosa Gil, NadjaL9.3/2214690
n.pedrosa-gilAthzdr.deBusiness administration Reactive Transport
Business administration Neuroradiopharmaceuticals

Employees

NameBld./Office+49 351 260EmailPosition/Tasks
Becker, AlexandraL9.3/2114692
a.beckerAthzdr.dePhD student
Eren, Ismaili.erenAthzdr.dePhD Student
Gouatieu Dongmo, Elvirae.gouatieu-dongmoAthzdr.dePhD Student
Kulenkampff Dr., JohannesL9.3/2024663
j.kulenkampffAthzdr.deResearch Scientist
Lindemann Dr., MarcelL9.3/3184671
m.lindemannAthzdr.de
Lippold Dr. habil., HolgerL9.3/4014672
h.lippoldAthzdr.deResearch Scientist
Lösel, DagmarL9.3/4024673
d.loeselAthzdr.deLaboratory technician
Schöngart, JannL9.3/2224658
j.schoengartAthzdr.dePhD Student
Schößler, ClaudiaL9.3/4024674
c.schoesslerAthzdr.deChemical laboratory technician
Zhou, WenyuL9.3/211w.zhouAthzdr.deDoktorand

Other employees

NameBld./Office+49 351 260EmailPosition/Tasks
Franke Dr., KarstenL9.3/3184629
k.frankeAthzdr.deResearch scientist

Address

Department of Reactive Transport
Institute of Resource Ecology
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e. V. (HZDR)
Forschungsstelle Leipzig

Permoserstr. 15
04318 Leipzig
Germany