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Master thesis in Environmental Analytical Chemistry
We offer a Master thesis in Environmental Analytical Chemistry. The goal is to develop analytical methods on a capillary electrophoresis instrument coupled to CD4 Detection for the quantification of cations and anions in pore waters of lake sediments.
The study of biogeochemical processes at the sediment-water interface critically depends on determining the concentration profiles and resulting gradients of dissolved inorganic anions and cations in the pore water of the sediments. This requires the measurement of concentration gradients on millimeter to submillimeter scales, and the ability to accurately quantify anion and cation concentrations in very small sample volumes (< 100 µL) extracted from sediment cores. Such small volumes challenge analysis by conventional methods, such as ion-exchange chromatography. Instead, a number of recent studies have demonstrated fast separation and accurate quantification of both anions and cations in microliter-sized volumes by capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled to capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) (e.g., Torres et al., Environ Sci Process Impacts, 2013, 14, 715). A new generation of CE-C4D instrument has recently been built in the chemistry department of the University of Basel. This instrument is portable for measurements in the field, semi-automated, allows for simultaneous detection of both cations and anions on two separate capillaries, and relies on pneumatically-controlled sample injection.
The study of biogeochemical processes at the sediment-water interface critically depends on determining the concentration profiles and resulting gradients of dissolved inorganic anions and cations in the pore water of the sediments. This requires the measurement of concentration gradients on millimeter to submillimeter scales, and the ability to accurately quantify anion and cation concentrations in very small sample volumes (< 100 µL) extracted from sediment cores. Such small volumes challenge analysis by conventional methods, such as ion-exchange chromatography. Instead, a number of recent studies have demonstrated fast separation and accurate quantification of both anions and cations in microliter-sized volumes by capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled to capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) (e.g., Torres et al., Environ Sci Process Impacts, 2013, 14, 715). A new generation of CE-C4D instrument has recently been built in the chemistry department of the University of Basel. This instrument is portable for measurements in the field, semi-automated, allows for simultaneous detection of both cations and anions on two separate capillaries, and relies on pneumatically-controlled sample injection.
This MSc project has two goals. The first is to develop robust analytical methods for the sensitive and simultaneous detection of major inorganic cations (i.e., Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, NH4+, Fe2+, and Mn2+) and anions (SO42-, NO3-, Cl-, PO43-, low molecular weight organic acids) in small sample volumes. This part will involve analyzing mixtures of standard solutions containing the above ions at known concentrations while systematically varying the analytical conditions in the CE-C4D systems and will primarily be conducted at the University of Basel where the instrument was developed. The second goal is to utilize the developed methods to determine pore water gradients of anions and cation in surface sediments of Swiss lakes that vary in trophic state. We hypothesize that micro-scale concentration gradients of microbial metabolites (e.g. NH4+, Fe2+, Mn2+, SO42-, NO3-) measured by CE-C4D will provide new insights into the distribution and rates of microbial respiration and organic carbon cycling in these sediments. This part will be conducted at ETH Zurich and have a field component. The successful completion of the Master thesis project will result in unprecedented analytical capabilities to measure chemical gradients and the distribution of microbiological processes at sediment-water interfaces in lakes.
We are looking for applicants with a strong background in one or more of the following disciplines: Environmental Sciences, Biogeochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Engi
This MSc project has two goals. The first is to develop robust analytical methods for the sensitive and simultaneous detection of major inorganic cations (i.e., Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, NH4+, Fe2+, and Mn2+) and anions (SO42-, NO3-, Cl-, PO43-, low molecular weight organic acids) in small sample volumes. This part will involve analyzing mixtures of standard solutions containing the above ions at known concentrations while systematically varying the analytical conditions in the CE-C4D systems and will primarily be conducted at the University of Basel where the instrument was developed. The second goal is to utilize the developed methods to determine pore water gradients of anions and cation in surface sediments of Swiss lakes that vary in trophic state. We hypothesize that micro-scale concentration gradients of microbial metabolites (e.g. NH4+, Fe2+, Mn2+, SO42-, NO3-) measured by CE-C4D will provide new insights into the distribution and rates of microbial respiration and organic carbon cycling in these sediments. This part will be conducted at ETH Zurich and have a field component. The successful completion of the Master thesis project will result in unprecedented analytical capabilities to measure chemical gradients and the distribution of microbiological processes at sediment-water interfaces in lakes.
We are looking for applicants with a strong background in one or more of the following disciplines: Environmental Sciences, Biogeochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Engi
Dr. Mark Lever (ETH Zürich) mark.lever@usys.ethz.ch ; Dr. Michael Sander (ETH Zurich) Michael.sander@env.ethz.ch.
Dr. Mark Lever (ETH Zürich) mark.lever@usys.ethz.ch ; Dr. Michael Sander (ETH Zurich) Michael.sander@env.ethz.ch.