Novel Inorganic Coatings for Surfaces of Cement Bound Material Surfaces Using Rare Earth as Carriers of Hydrophobicity.
The aim of the project is the development of novel inorganic coatings for cement bound materials. The coating is intended to significantly increase the service life of the components produced with it. The concept is to formulate a fully inorganic coating in which the carrier of hydrophobicity is transferred to a rare earth oxide.
Sustainable Water Management of Municipal Water Utilities in Times of Climate Change (Joint Project ZukoWa in collaboration with Professor S. Norra, Chair of Soil Science and Geoecology)
The project 'ZukoWa', funded by the BMFTR, addresses the challenges of drinking water supply caused by climate change and the resulting changes in precipitation patterns. Together with eight project partners, a measurement infrastructure and water management concept is being developed to ensure the drinking water supply for smaller municipalities despite fluctuating source water quality. This includes in particular monitoring water quality for contamination with heavy metals. An optical method is to be developed to measure the concentrations of uranium and arsenic in drinking water sources (ideally on-site), simple, and cost-effective. The basis for this measurement is laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (LIF) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).
Geochemical Radionuclide Retention on Cement Alteration Phases – Phase II (GRaZ II)
At the University of Potsdam (Physical Chemistry), laser-based optical methods are used and further developed to study cement alteration phases. The methodological developments of analytical-optical techniques and the systematic investigations aim to improve the molecular-level understanding of the interactions of actinide ions (or lanthanide ions as chemical analogues) with cement alteration phases under hyperalkaline conditions as well as with silicate ligand systems. This work is carried out in collaboration with the University of Mainz, the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Saarland University, the Technical University of Munich, the Technical University of Dresden, and Heidelberg University.
Minimally Invasive Sex Determination of Six-Day-Old Chicken Eggs Using Time-Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy (Mini6Ei)
The goal is the practical development of an automation concept for a new minimally invasive method for determining the sex of chicken embryos on the sixth day of incubation. The project is carried out in cooperation with TH OWL, Agri Advance Technologies GmbH, and Bielefeld University.
Let Biology Take the Lead – Peptides Capture Critical Raw Materials: The 'Natural' Separation of Lanthanides (PepTight)
In the BMBF-funded collaborative project 'PepTight', we are working together with colleagues from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf as well as the Departments of Analytical Chemistry and Polymer Chemistry at the University of Potsdam on a peptide-based modular filter designed to enrich and separate lanthanide ions from aqueous solutions. Lanthanides were selected due to their enormous economic importance for many sectors of the high-tech industry. Currently, they can only be obtained and separated from one another through labor-intensive processes that use environmentally hazardous chemicals. Highly selective biological binding units (peptides) for lanthanide ions are linked to specifically functional polymers using innovative coupling strategies, and the resulting peptide-polymer conjugates are immobilized in modular filters.
Potential peptide candidates are identified using state of the art methods such as phage display and are subsequently characterized physicochemically and structurally. Among other techniques, the unique luminescence properties of lanthanides are exploited for speciation within the novel biocomposites.
Infrastructure and Operational Aspects of Converting Natural Gas Pipelines to Hydrogen and Building New Hydrogen Networks – Subproject: Hy2ReM – Airborne Hydrogen Remote Detection (GET H2 TransHyDE)
In collaboration with Adlares GmbH and OpenGrid Europe GmbH, a laboratory prototype for Raman spectroscopy based hydrogen detection is being developed, which is intended to enable airborne leak testing of hydrogen pipelines. Laboratory tests are being conducted to evaluate key parameters for subsequent airborne detection. In the next step, under the leadership of Adlares GmbH, a field prototype will be built for on site testing and evaluated in field trials.
Synthesis, Scale-Up, and Characterization of Perovskite Nanoparticles for the Design of Novel Electrodes for the Electrolytic Production of Chemical Energy Carriers (H2O-PRO)
The aim of this project is the development of a process engineering concept for the spray flame synthesis of perovskite based nanoparticles at the kilogram scale, as the next generation of cost-effective and resource efficient catalyst materials for hydrogen production (water splitting) i) in SOEC cells and ii) in alkaline electrolysis.
Monitoring reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the nanoscale - Combination of DNA origami and ceria nanoparticles
The activity of ceria nanoparticles in the context of biological activity of these materials with respect to reactive oxygen species (ROS) is evaluated on the nanoscale.
Development of Quantitative, Real-Time In-Situ Metal Analysis in Lithium Mining to Improve Energy Efficiency and Lithium Recovery from Ores Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy – GeoLiLIBS Preliminary Project
GeoLiLIBS involves the development of process analytics based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the monitoring and optimization of industrial processing of lithium ores and lithium containing brines. The aim of the project is to increase the efficiency of energy and material usage in the production of high purity lithium hydroxide for batteries.
WIR! – rECOmine – Digitalization and Model Predictive Control of Complex Processing Operations Using Sensor Fusion and AI-Based Analysis
Teilvorhaben 4: Laser-induzierte Breakdown Spektroskopie als Sensormethode zur Prozessanalytik für die Flotation von Erzen
In DigiFloat, process analytics based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) are being developed to monitor and optimize the industrial flotation process in mining. DigiFloat is a project within the WIR! initiative rECOmine and aims to increase resource efficiency in mining, with the goal of achieving zero waste mining by optimally utilizing secondary resources from mining residues and overburden in line with a circular economy approach.
I4S – Integrated System for Site-Specific Soil Fertility Management. Subproject H: Mobile Element Analysis Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)
The goal of the I4S project is the development of an integrated system for site specific soil fertility management, providing recommendations for adjusting fertilization and other measures to improve soil functions and reduce environmental impacts. Within the I4S consortium, the Department of Physical Chemistry is involved in the development of a sensor for determining various soil parameters based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).