Oliver Lechtenfeld, PhD
Scientist

Contact / Address
Department Analytical Chemistry
Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ
Permoserstr. 15
DE-04318 Leipzig
Germany
Building 4.0, Room 222
Phone: +49 341 235 1020
Fax: +49 341 235 451020
ResearcherID A-6480-2013
oliver.lechtenfeld@ufz.de
News / Media
Research Topics
My current research focuses on applications of ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) in environmental, biological and biogeochemical context.
My main research topic is the rapid and ultra-sensitive detection of molecules in complex natural mixtures like natural organic matter (NOM), metabolomics and petroleomics. In addition to analytical method development I also utilize chemoinformatics-aided data evaluation techniques.
Currently, I work on the development and application of stable isotope labelling methods. In combination with the high specificity and sensitivity of the FT-ICR MS this allows compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSSIA) to be implemented in metabolomics and biogeochemical research.
Besides identification of molecules from complex mixtures, also the spatial localization of molecules (chemicals, biological metabolites) in solid samples, e.g. in plant tissues or structured environmental systems (like soils, sediments), is a major research focus. Here, I use (matrix-assisted) laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) to unravel lateral molecule distributions.
I’m head of the research group BioGeoOmics within the Department Analytical Chemistry and coordinate the working group
FT-ICR MS and MALDI-Imaging
in the ProVIS Centre for Chemical Microscopy at the UFZ.
Current Projects
Concluded Projects
Curriculum Vitae
Since 2018 | Group leader BioGeoOmics |
Since 2015 | Postdoctoral research associate, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental research – UFZ, Department of Analytical Chemistry |
2013–2015 | Postdoctoral research associate, Marine Science Program, University of South Carolina (USC) |
2008-2012 | PhD thesis in Marine Biogeochemistry at the University of Bremen / Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Ecological chemistry section |
2002-2008 | Studies of chemistry at the University of Ulm with a major in Analytical and Environmental Chemistry. Diploma thesis at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Marine Geochemistry group. |
Publications
- Herzsprung, P., Kamjunke, N., Wilske, C., Friese, K., Boehrer, B., Rinke, K., Lechtenfeld, O.J., von Tümpling, W. (2023):
Data evaluation strategy for identification of key molecular formulas in dissolved organic matter as proxies for biogeochemical reactivity based on abundance differences from ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry
Water Res. 232 , art. 119672
full text (doi) - Jennings, E.K., Sierra Olea, M., Kaesler, J.M., Hübner, U., Reemtsma, T., Lechtenfeld, O.J. (2023):
Stable isotope labeling for detection of ozonation byproducts in effluent organic matter with FT-ICR-MS
Water Res. 229 , art. 119477
full text (doi) - Lohse, M., Santangeli, M., Steininger-Mairinger, T., Oburger, E., Reemtsma, T., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Hann, S. (2023):
The effect of root hairs on exudate composition: a comparative non-targeted metabolomics approach
Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 415 (5), 823 - 840
full text (doi) - Sierra Olea, M., Kölle, S., Bein, E., Reemtsma, T., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Hübner, U. (2023):
Isotopically labeled ozone: A new approach to elucidate the formation of ozonation products
Water Res. 233 , art. 119740
full text (doi)
- Blaurock, K., Garthen, P., da Silva, M.P., Beudert, B., Gilfedder, B.S., Fleckenstein, J.H., Peiffer, S., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Hopp, L. (2022):
Riparian microtopography affects event-driven stream DOC concentrations and DOM quality in a forested headwater catchment
J. Geophys. Res.-Biogeosci. 127 (12), e2022JG006831
full text (doi) - Butturini, A., Herzsprung, P., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Alcorlo, P., Benaiges-Fernandez, R., Berlanga, M., Boadella, J., Freixinos Campillo, Z., Gomez, R.M., Sanchez-Montoya, M.M., Urmeneta, J., Romaní, A.M. (2022):
Origin, accumulation and fate of dissolved organic matter in an extreme hypersaline shallow lake
Water Res. 221 , art. 118727
full text (doi) - Chen, S., Klotzbücher, T., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Hong, H., Liu, C., Kaiser, K., Mikutta, C., Mikutta, R. (2022):
Legacy effects of sorption determine the formation efficiency of mineral-associated soil organic matter
Environ. Sci. Technol. 56 (3), 2044 - 2053
full text (doi) - Halbach, K., Aulhorn, S., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Lecluse, M., Leippe, S., Reemtsma, T., Seiwert, B., Wagner, S., König, J., Luckenbach, T. (2022):
Zebrafish Oatp1d1 acts as a cellular efflux transporter of the anionic herbicide bromoxynil
Chem. Res. Toxicol. 35 (2), 315 - 325
full text (doi) - Jennings, E., Kremser, A., Han, L., Reemtsma, T., Lechtenfeld, O.J. (2022):
Discovery of polar ozonation byproducts via direct injection of effluent organic matter with online LC-FT-ICR-MS
Environ. Sci. Technol. 56 (3), 1894 - 1904
full text (doi) - Kamjunke, N., Beckers, L.-M., Herzsprung, P., von Tümpling, W., Lechtenfeld, O., Tittel, J., Risse-Buhl, U., Rode, M., Wachholz, A., Kallies, R., Schulze, T., Krauss, M., Brack, W., Comero, S., Gawlik, B.M., Skejo, H., Tavazzi, S., Mariani, G., Borchardt, D., Weitere, M. (2022):
Lagrangian profiles of riverine autotrophy, organic matter transformation, and micropollutants at extreme drought
Sci. Total Environ. 828 , art. 154243
full text (doi) - Pertzborn, D., Arolt, C., Ernst, G., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Kaesler, J., Pelzel, D., Guntinas-Lichius, O., von Eggeling, F., Hoffmann, F. (2022):
Multi-class cancer subtyping in salivary gland carcinomas with MALDI imaging and deep learning
Cancers 14 (17), art. 4342
full text (doi) - Tittel, J., Büttner, O., Friese, K., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Schuth, S., von Tümpling, W., Musolff, A. (2022):
Iron exports from catchments are constrained by redox status and topography
Glob. Biogeochem. Cycles 36 (1), e2021GB007056
full text (doi) - Zherebker, A., Rukhovich, G.D., Sarycheva, A., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Nikolaev, E.N. (2022):
Aromaticity index with improved estimation of carboxyl group contribution for biogeochemical studies
Environ. Sci. Technol. 56 (4), 2729 - 2737
full text (doi)
- da Silva, M.P., Blaurock, K., Beudert, B., Fleckenstein, J.H., Hopp, L., Peiffer, S., Reemtsma, T., Lechtenfeld, O.J. (2021):
Delineating source contributions to stream dissolved organic matter composition under baseflow conditions in forested headwater catchments
J. Geophys. Res.-Biogeosci. 126 (8), e2021JG006425
full text (doi) - Fazia, S., Amalfitano, S., Venturi, S., Pacini, N., Vazquez, S., Olaka, L.A., Tassi, F., Crognale, S., Herzsprung, P., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Cabassi, J., Capecchiacci, F., Rossetti, S., Yakimov, M.M., Vaselli, O., Harper, D.M., Butturini, A. (2021):
High concentrations of dissolved biogenic methane associated with cyanobacterial blooms in East African lake surface water
Commun. Biol. 4 , art. 845
full text (doi) - Giannopoulos, K., Benettoni, P., Holbrook, T.R., Reemtsma, T., Wagner, S., Lechtenfeld, O.J. (2021):
Direct analysis of fulvic acids adsorbed onto capped gold nanoparticles by laser desorption ionization Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry
Environ. Sci.-Nano 8 (8), 2336 - 2346
full text (doi) - Han, L., Kaesler, J., Peng, C., Reemtsma, T., Lechtenfeld, O.J. (2021):
Online counter gradient LC-FT-ICR-MS enables detection of highly polar natural organic matter fractions
Anal. Chem. 93 (3), 1740 - 1748
full text (doi) - Hensgens, G., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Guillemette, F., Laudon, H., Berggren, M. (2021):
Impacts of litter decay on organic leachate composition and reactivity
Biogeochemistry 154 , 99 - 117
full text (doi) - Herzsprung, P., Kamjunke, N., von Tümpling, W., Wilske, C., Reemtsma, T., Lechtenfeld, O.J. (2021):
Judgement and assessment of high resolution mass spectrometry investigations of DOM – Examples for identification of biogeochemical processes in waters
Vom Wasser 119 (2), 47 - 51
full text (doi) - Lohse, M., Haag, R., Lippold, E., Vetterlein, D., Reemtsma, T., Lechtenfeld, O.J. (2021):
Direct imaging of plant metabolites in the rhizosphere using laser desorption ionization ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry
Front. Plant Sci. 12 , art. 753812
full text (doi) - Muniz, M.S., Halbach, K., Araruna, I.C.A., Martins, R.X., Seiwert, B., Lechtenfeld, O., Reemtsma, T., Farias, D. (2021):
Moxidectin toxicity to zebrafish embryos: Bioaccumulation and biomarker responses
Environ. Pollut. 283 , art. 117096
full text (doi) - Rummel, C.D., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Kallies, R., Benke, A., Herzsprung, P., Rynek, R., Wagner, S., Potthoff, A., Jahnke, A., Schmitt-Jansen, M. (2021):
Conditioning film and early biofilm succession on plastic surfaces
Environ. Sci. Technol. 55 (16), 11006 - 11018
full text (doi) - Sartori Jeunon Gontijo, E., Herzsprung, P., Lechtenfeld, O.J., de Castro Bueno, C., Barth, J.A.C., Rosa, A.H., Friese, K. (2021):
Multi-proxy approach involving ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry and self-organising maps to investigate the origin and quality of sedimentary organic matter across a subtropical reservoir
Org. Geochem. 151 , art. 104165
full text (doi) - Werner, B.J., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Musolff, A., de Rooij, G.H., Yang, J., Gründling, R., Werban, U., Fleckenstein, J.H. (2021):
Small-scale topography explains patterns and dynamics of dissolved organic carbon exports from the riparian zone of a temperate, forested catchment
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 25 (12), 6067 - 6086
full text (doi) - Wilske, C., Herzsprung, P., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Kamjunke, N., Einax, J.W., von Tümpling, W. (2021):
New insights into the seasonal variation of DOM quality of a humic-rich drinking-water reservoir—coupling 2D-fluorescence and FTICR MS measurements
Water 13 (12), art. 1703
full text (doi)
- Butturini, A., Amalfitano, S., Herzsprung, P., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Venturi, S., Olaka, L.A., Pacini, N., Harper, D.M., Tassi, F., Fazi, S. (2020):
Dissolved organic matter in continental hydro-geothermal systems: Insights from two hot springs of the East African Rift Valley
Water 12 (12), art. 3512
full text (doi) - Butturini, A., Herzsprung, P., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Venturi, S., Amalfitano, S., Vazquez, E., Pacini, N., Harper, D.M., Tassi, F., Fazi, S. (2020):
Dissolved organic matter in a tropical saline-alkaline lake of the East African Rift Valley
Water Res. 173 , art. 115532
full text (doi) - da Silva, M.P., Kaesler, J.M., Reemtsma, T., Lechtenfeld, O.J. (2020):
Absorption mode spectral processing improves data quality of natural organic matter analysis by Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry
J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 31 (7), 1615 - 1618
full text (doi) - Giannopoulos, K., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Holbrook, T.R., Reemtsma, T., Wagner, S. (2020):
Exploring the potential of laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry to analyse organic capping agents on inorganic nanoparticle surfaces
Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 412 (22), 5261 - 5271
full text (doi) - Herzsprung, P., Wentzky, V.C., Kamjunke, N., von Tümpling, W., Wilske, C., Friese, K., Boehrer, B., Reemtsma, T., Rinke, K., Lechtenfeld, O.J. (2020):
Improved understanding of dissolved organic matter processing in freshwater using complementary experimental and machine learning approaches
Environ. Sci. Technol. 54 (21), 13556 - 13565
full text (doi) - Kamjunke, N., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Herzsprung, P. (2020):
Quality of dissolved organic matter driven by autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial processes in a large river
Water 12 (6), art. 1577
full text (doi) - Lohse, M., Blaser, S.R.G.A., Vetterlein, D., Schlüter, S., Oburger, E., Reemtsma, T., Lechtenfeld, O.J. (2020):
Online nano solid phase extraction Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry workflow to analyze small scale gradients of soil solution organic matter in the rhizosphere
Anal. Chem. 92 (15), 10442 - 10449
full text (doi) - Lohse, M., Dusny, C., Kaesler, J., Lechtenfeld, O.J. (2020):
MRMS powered single cell metabolomics – Quantification of picogram amounts of a biocatalytic product from few living cells
Bruker Application Note 05-2020, MRMS-70, 1877441
Bruker Daltonics, 6 pp.
full text (doi) - Tayyebi Sabet Khomami, N., Philippe, A., Abu Quba, A.A., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Guigner, J.-M., Heissler, S., Schaumann, G.E. (2020):
Validation of a field deployable reactor for in situ formation of NOM-engineered nanoparticle corona
Environ. Sci.-Nano 7 (2), 486 - 500
full text (doi) - Wilske, C., Herzsprung, P., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Kamjunke, N., von Tümpling, W. (2020):
Photochemically induced changes of dissolved organic matter in a humic‐rich and forested stream
Water 12 , art. 331
full text (doi) - Zherebker, A., Kim, S., Schmitt-Kopplin, P., Spencer, R.G.M., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Podgorski, D.C., Hertkorn, N., Harir, M., Nurfajin, N., Koch, B., Nikolaev, E.N., Shirshin, E.A., Berezin, S.A., Kats, D.S., Rukhovich, G.D., Perminova, I.V. (2020):
Interlaboratory comparison of humic substances compositional space as measured by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (IUPAC Technical Report)
Pure Appl. Chem. 92 (9), 1447 - 1467
full text (doi) - Zherebker, A., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Sarycheva, A., Kostyukevich, Y., Kharybin, O., Fedoros, E.I., Nikolaev, E.N. (2020):
Refinement of compound aromaticity in complex organic mixtures by stable isotope label assisted ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry
Anal. Chem. 92 (13), 9032 - 9038
full text (doi)
- Chen, S.-C., Musat, N., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Paschke, H., Schmidt, M., Said, N., Popp, D., Calabrese, F., Stryhanyuk, H., Jaekel, U., Zhu, Y.-G., Joye, S.B., Richnow, H.-H., Widdel, F., Musat, F. (2019):
Anaerobic oxidation of ethane by archaea from a marine hydrocarbon seep
Nature 568 (7750), 108 - 111
full text (doi) - Dusny, C., Lohse, M., Reemtsma, T., Schmid, A., Lechtenfeld, O.J. (2019):
Quantifying a biocatalytic product from a few living microbial cells using microfluidic cultivation coupled to FT-ICR-MS
Anal. Chem. 91 (11), 7012 - 7018
full text (doi) - Lian, S., Wu, L., Nikolausz, M., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Richnow, H.H. (2019):
2H and 13C isotope fractionation analysis of organophosphorus compounds for characterizing transformation reactions in biogas slurry: Potential for anaerobic treatment of contaminated biomass
Water Res. 163 , art. 114882
full text (doi) - Spranger, T., van Pinxteren, D., Reemtsma, T., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Herrmann, H. (2019):
2D liquid chromatographic fractionation with ultra-high resolution MS analysis resolves a vast molecular diversity of tropospheric particle organics
Environ. Sci. Technol. 53 (19), 11353 - 11363
full text (doi) - Vernet, M., Geibert, W., Hoppema, M., Brown, P.J., Haas, C., Hellmer, H.H., Jokat, W., Jullion, L., Mazloff, M., Bakker, D.C.E., Brearley, J.A., Croot, P., Hattermann, T., Hauck, J., Hillenbrand, C.-D., Hoppe, C.J.M., Huhn, O., Koch, B.P., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Meredith, M.P., Naveira Garabato, A.C., Nöthig, E.-M., Peeken, I., Rutgers van der Loeff, M.M., Schmidtko, S., Schröder, M., Strass, V.H., Torres-Valdés, S., Verdy, A. (2019):
The Weddell Gyre, Southern Ocean: present knowledge and future challenges
Rev. Geophys. 57 (3), 623 - 708
full text (doi) - Werner, B.J., Musolff, A., Lechtenfeld, O.J., de Rooij, G.H., Oosterwoud, M.R., Fleckenstein, J.H. (2019):
High-frequency measurements explain quantity and quality of dissolved organic carbon mobilization in a headwater catchment
Biogeosciences 16 , 4497 - 4516
full text (doi)
- Bercovici, S.K., Koch, B.P., Lechtenfeld, O.J., McCallister, S.L., Schmitt-Kopplin, P., Hansell, D.A. (2018):
Aging and molecular changes of dissolved organic matter between two deep oceanic end-members
Glob. Biogeochem. Cycles 32 (10), 1449 - 1456
full text (doi) - Schlitzer, R., Anderson, R.F., Dodas, E.M., Lohan, M., Geibert, W., Tagliabue, A., Bowie, A., Jeandel, C., Maldonado, M.T., Landing, W.M., Cockwell, D., Abadie, C., Abouchami, W., Achterberg, E.P., Agather, A., Aguliar-Islas, A., van Aken, H.M., Andersen, M., Archer, C., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Auro, M., et al. (2018):
The GEOTRACES Intermediate Data Product 2017
Chem. Geol. 493 , 210 - 223
full text (doi) - Wu, L., Chládková, B., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Lian, S., Schindelka, J., Herrmann, H., Richnow, H.H. (2018):
Characterizing chemical transformation of organophosphorus compounds by 13C and 2H stable isotope analysis
Sci. Total Environ. 615 , 20 - 28
full text (doi) - Wünsch, U.J., Geuer, J.K., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Koch, B.P., Murphy, K.R., Stedmon, C.A. (2018):
Quantifying the impact of solid-phase extraction on chromophoric dissolved organic matter composition
Mar. Chem. 207 , 33 - 41
full text (doi)
- Koch, B.P., Ksionzek, K.B., Lechtenfeld, O.J., McCallister, S.L., Schmitt-Kopplin, P., Geuer, J.K., Geibert, W. (2017):
Response to comment on "Dissolved organic sulfur in the ocean: Biogeochemistry of a petagram inventory"
Science 356 (6340), 813 - 813
full text (doi) - Raeke, J., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Seiwert, B., Meier, T., Riemenschneider, C., Reemtsma, T. (2017):
Photochemically induced bound residue formation of carbamazepine with dissolved organic matter
Environ. Sci. Technol. 51 (10), 5523 - 5530
full text (doi) - Raeke, J., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Tittel, J., Oosterwoud, M.R., Bornmann, K., Reemtsma, T. (2017):
Linking the mobilization of dissolved organic matter in catchments and its removal in drinking water treatment to its molecular characteristics
Water Res. 113 , 149 - 159
full text (doi)
- Ksionzek, K.B., Lechtenfeld, O.J., McCallister, S.L., Schmitt-Kopplin, P., Geuer, J.K., Geibert, W., Koch, B.P. (2016):
Dissolved organic sulfur in the ocean: Biogeochemistry of a petagram inventory
Science 354 (6311), 456 - 459
full text (doi) - Laso-Pérez, R., Wegener, G., Knittel, K., Widdel, F., Harding, K.J., Krukenberg, V., Meier, D.V., Richter, M., Tegetmeyer, H.E., Riedel, D., Richnow, H.-H., Adrian, L., Reemtsma, T., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Musat, F. (2016):
Thermophilic archaea activate butane via alkyl-coenzyme M formation
Nature 539 (7629), 396 - 401
full text (doi) - Raeke, J., Lechtenfeld, O.J., Wagner, M., Herzsprung, P., Reemtsma, T. (2016):
Selectivity of solid phase extraction of freshwater dissolved organic matter and its effect on ultrahigh resolution mass spectra
Environ. Sci.-Proc. Imp. 18 (7), 918 - 927
full text (doi)
- Lechtenfeld, O.J., Hertkorn, N., Shen, Y., Witt, M., Benner, R. (2015):
Marine sequestration of carbon in bacterial metabolites
Nat. Commun. 6 , art. 6711
full text (doi)