SP1

With the research in this subproject, we aim for a quantitative understanding of the interplay and inter‐
dependence of the formation pathways of microaggregates in space and time, the controlling processes and underlying mechanism by the exploration of the resulting phenomena. Thus, we study the in‐vitro formation of microaggregates from aqueous suspensions employing a collection of microaggregate forming materials in a bottom up approach.
Thereby we explore the role of nano‐topography and nano‐mechanical properties in the formation and stability of soil microaggregates by atomic force microscopy. We developed a physically‐based model for the simulation of the formation of 3D‐structures from aqueous suspension in‐silico mimicking the aggregation processes studied in‐vitro. Additionally we analysed the role of surface alteration for the authigenic formation of microaggregates in the soil‐parent rock continuum in‐situ.
The group was further responsible for the production of the labeled 13C‐EPS used in the microcosm experiments.