Transformation Processes

TransformationProcessesBild

The concentration of a contaminant in an environmental compartment or in an organism is governed by the input/uptake and export/release as well as by internal transformation processes. Such processes may be purely abiotic or catalyzed by enzymes. Transformation also alters the pattern of exposure as new products are formed with different properties and effects than the parent compound.

We develop and use state of the art analytical methods to detect, identify and quantify transformation products across scales from laboratory experiments and individual organisms to technical systems and environmental compartments. With this we aim to systematically understand the fate of emerging contaminants and facilitate the transfer of gained knowledge to the wider chemical universe.

Specifically, we focus on the following topics:
• Formation, occurrence and removal of persistent and mobile (PM) compounds including per-and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS)
• Improved methodologies for the identification of potentially harmful transformation products
• Environmental chemistry of tire and road wear particles (TRWP) and chemicals thereof
• Environmental fate and occurrence of water-soluble polymers (WSPs)

Academic Staff

Prof. Thorsten Reemtsma

Dr. Daniel Zahn

Dr. Maolida Nihemaiti

Dr. Xiaojing Zhu

Dr. Bettina Seiwert


PhD Students

Harriet Byrne

Volkwin Kuntz

Ann-Cathrin Krause

Maximilian Anton Steuernagel 

Milena Voll


Technicians

Coretta Bauer

Petra Keil

Alumni

Paul Genz

Limei Han

Matthias Muschket

Alina Seelig

Steffen Weyrauch

AirPlast - Abundance and Fate of Synthetic Materials in Atmospheric sub-10 μm Particles
FluoroRisk - Risk-based assessment of under-researched PFAS: identification, exposure and impact
Polyaqua - Water-soluble polymers in the aquatic environment
re:PM - Removal and degradation platforms tailored for persistent and mobile organic compounds in drinking water sources.
SafeCrew – Climate-resilient management for safe disinfected and non-disinfected water supply systems.
SUSKULT II – Development of a sustainable cultivation system for food in resilient metropolitan areas.
TIP – Tire Industry Projects
UPeM - Understanding existing PFAS emissions in water electrolysers and fuel cell systems.
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Previous Projects

IPIE

PROMOTE

PROTECT - Persistent and mobile chemicals in the aquatic environment: sources, occurrence and removal options in drinking water preparation

PU2R  - Point-of-Use Re-Use: Decentralized agricultural reuse of treated municipal wastewater

Smart Suspect Screening

SUSKULT

Toxicokinetic in the zebrafish embryo

2026 (6)

2025 (23)

2024 (19)

2023 (22)

2022 (17)

2021 (28)

2020 (19)

2019 (14)

2018 (10)

2017 (16)

2016 (18)

2015 (10)

2014 (8)

2013 (5)

2012 (4)