goodwater

WP 7 aims at developing the use of compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) for important aspects of groundwater management. Compound-specific stable isotope fractionation is an original, cost efficient monitoring approach that infers the extent of degradation from measured changes in contaminant isotope ratios. One aim of fellow 7 (SV: M. Elsner, HMGU) will be to investigate the effect of aquifer heterogeneities and to assess under which circumstances such estimates may be biased. The work package will be performed in close collaboration with fellow 11 (HMGU) and will be co-supervised by the SME Isodetect (H. Eisenmann). A second goal of fellow 7 will be to apply CSIA in natural and engineered systems, particularly to decipher transformation pathways from characteristic isotope patterns that are caused by underlying kinetic isotope effects. Specifically, chlorinated hydrocarbons will be analyzed during biostimulation and -augmentation in collaboration with fellow 14 (DTU), in chemical treatment with fellow 12 (VITO) and at the groundwater-surface water-interface with fellow 10 (DTU), all of them hosted for initial training in summer 2009 and for follow up measurements in 2010. Degradation of pesticides will be assessed in collaboration with fellows 2, 3 (GEUS), and 15 (DTU), hosted for initial training in winter 2009/10 and for follow up measurements in 2010/11. Fellow 7 will visit the laboratories of these exchange fellows in 2010 to obtain training in cultivation of organisms for degradation experiments to measure associated isotope fractionation. Likewise, the fellow will get hands-on experience in engineered systems and at field sites. Additionally, fellow 7 will participate in professional consulting with clients and environmental authorities provided by Isodetect for a period of altogether 4 weeks during his training period.