Chemical Characterization and Imaging of Soils Aggregates Using Laser Ablation Aerosol Mass Spectrometry
EMSL Project ID
48231
Abstract
We will apply and refine the recently demonstrated technical capability of laser ablation (LA) sampling combined with aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS) to specific scientific issues arising from the complex matrix of physical and chemical components present in soil aggregates. The focus of this project will be to address key scientific and technical issues required to realize the full potential of LA-AMS as a high-throughput system for the rapid bulk and spatially resolved analysis of the high numbers of samples required to address key scientific questions concerning the mechanisms and role played by soil aggregates in carbon (C) sequestration, C cycling, and nutrient and biological energy cycles. Our specific aims are to challenge the current understanding of C distribution and persistence within soil aggregates. A major hindrance to a micron-scale mechanistic understanding of microbial organization and C cycling processes in soils is the current inability to link physical structure to distinct microbial and chemical properties. This inability stems from multiple problems associated with the size-scale of the observations desired, opacity of the soil, chemical heterogeneity of soil organic C, and how utilization of soil C sources or pools varies spatially and temporally. LA-AMS is a new technology that overcomes the problems of observation scale and soil opacity, and offers the potential to spatially map elements and produce molecular information at a lateral resolution in the 1-10 micron range, and depth resolution of as little as 100 nanometers. This capability opens up a variety of avenues for examining the relationship between location of microbes, location of soil organic C, and the relative age (young/labile versus old/recalcitrant) of soil organic C at specific locations.
Project Details
Start Date
2014-04-10
End Date
2015-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members