Sebastian Mergelsberg

Nutrient and contaminant incorporation in amorphous intermediates during carbonate nucleation and growth in biogeochemical systems

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sebastien Kerisit

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Mineral nucleation and growth are key processes affecting the mobility of critical plant nutrients and contaminants in soils. Mineral precipitation often occurs via amorphous intermediates whose…

Developing an Automated Smart Method for Searching the Configurational Space of Micronutrients in Host Minerals, Proteins, and Soils

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Eugene Ilton

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

In prior EMSL supported work we developed an ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) approach to interpret the EXAFS signal of impurities/micronutrients in the structure of Fe(oxyhydroxide) host minerals…

features guiding amelogenin’s transformation of calcium phosphate into enamel – FY23.

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Garry Buchko

One of nature’s hardest materials is enamel, which is 95% (by weight) carbonated hydroxyapatite (HAP). The exceptional functional properties of enamel arise from its intricate hierarchical structure…

The role of Fe(oxyhydr)oxides in regulating the biogeochemical cycling of the essential micronutrients zinc and copper

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Eugene Ilton

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Elements essential for plant growth and nutritious crops (e.g., Fe, Cu, and Zn) are often strongly associated with Fe (oxyhydr)oxides, particularly in more weathered terrains. For example, Zn…

A multi-disciplined approach to understand the structural, spatial, and temporal features guiding amelogenin’s transformation of calcium phosphate into enamel

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Garry Buchko

One of nature’s hardest materials is enamel, which is 95% (by weight) carbonated hydroxyapatite (HAP). The exceptional functional properties of enamel arise from its intricate hierarchical structure…

Can Mineral Growth by Oriented Attachment Lead to Incorporation of Uranium into the Structure of Fe(oxyhydr)oxides?

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Eugene Ilton

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

Previous laboratory work has shown that uranium can be incorporated into the structure of hematite and goethite during co-precipitation and redox transformation of ferrihydrite, respectively. However…

Growth of and contaminant incorporation in complex carbonate coatings at mineral/water interfaces

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sebastien Kerisit

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

All realistic mineral surfaces in natural waters can be expected to be coated, and their reactive properties influenced by the presence of coatings. It is a common but challenging interfacial process…

The impact of organic-mineral interactions on soil organic matter stability and mineral evolution

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

James De Yoreo

The aims of the proposed research are to: 1) determine the impact of adsorbed organics on mineral-solution interfacial structure, 2) understand how organics impact solution speciation during mineral…

Contaminant immobilization through heterogeneous carbonate growth at mineral/water and mineral/microbe interfaces

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sebastien Kerisit

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

The presence of mineral surfaces and of microorganisms significantly impacts the nature and composition of mineral phases formed in biogeochemical systems. Despite the importance of these…

The role of Fe(oxyhydr)oxides in regulating the biogeochemical cycling of Zinc; an essential micro-nutrient

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Eugene Ilton

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

We propose to study the influence of Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides on the biogeochemical cycling of Zn, an essential micronutrient. The work is specifically focused on incorporation of Zn into the…

Contaminant immobilization through heterogeneous carbonate growth at mineral/water and mineral/microbe interfaces

Lead Institution

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Principal Investigator

Sebastien Kerisit

Project type

Large-Scale EMSL Research

The presence of mineral surfaces and microorganisms significantly impacts the nature and composition of mineral phases formed in biogeochemical systems. Despite the importance of these heterogeneous…

Projects