Redox-Chemistry of Environmental Biofilms Probed on the Submicron Scale by in-situ Electrochemistry Scanning Transmission (soft) X-ray Microscopy

Abstract

Introduction: A complex interplay of (redox-)chemical and biological processes control the fate of nutrients and contaminants in the environment. These can only be understood when the underlying reaction mechanisms can be identified and quantified. However, there is an increasing awareness of heterogeneity on various spatial and temporal scales in biogeochemical processes. Temporal fluctuations, caused for example by daily or seasonal cycles, water table fluctuations or perturbations, can result in fluctuations of biogeochemical reaction zones [1,2] and thus result in unexpected reactions.