Revealing Mechanism for Stabilizing Organic Carbon - Innovative Chemical Imaging
EMSL Project ID
60140
Abstract
Microbial interactions with soil minerals lead to production of stabilized soil organic matter (SOM) [1]. We hypothesize that mineralization of microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) is the decisive mechanism of their stabilization. We will establish an approach for using an innovative EELS-aloof methodology for high spatial and spectral resolution chemical imaging [2] that will expand our ability to investigate organic carbon in environmental and bioproduct sciences. We will demonstrate the highest resolution structural imaging by providing detailed compositional mapping of macromolecular distribution without sample radiation damage notoriously present in electron beam probe imaging and analytical methods. It will improve our understanding of the biochemical basis for spatial organization and speciation of organic C, to assist studies intended to map the distribution of organic macromolecular subcomponents.
Project Details
Start Date
2021-06-14
End Date
2023-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator