Innovation

Technology transfer and engineering practice

As a spin-off from the Helmholtz research centers in Munich and Leipzig, Isodetect has a direct line to the latest developments in the field of groundwater, contaminated site and isotope research. Our goal is to quickly implement new findings in engineering practice through effective technology transfer. With our development concept, we are helping to ensure that Germany remains a leading technology location for environmental isotope applications.

Here we explain some scientific basics about isotope values and the quantification of pollutant degradation with the help of isotope enrichment. You will also find a database (ISOFRAC) of the isotopic enrichment factors ε of environmental pollutants. We will inform you about the goals and partners of our current research projects.

The aim of Bio-UGS is to track and stimulate potential biological methane formation through CO2 reduction in natural gas storage tanks that are filled with hydrogen. This synergistic process contributes to reliable energy supply and at the same time to the elimination of oxidized carbon.

In the Fate-PFT project, innovative isotope analysis methods for forensic investigation and degradation characterization of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated pollutants (PFAS) are being developed. These extremely persistent chemicals are found in a wide variety of products (cosmetics, cookware, paper coatings, textiles, ski wax, metal and plastic coatings, pesticides, fire extinguishing agents) and have recently been increasingly detected in groundwater.

The load of a pollutant transported with groundwater is a key parameter in the assessment of contaminated sites. In IsoFlux, innovative, pollutant-absorbing passive collectors are being developed to measure this parameter with extreme sensitivity. Based on this tool, Isodetect develops an isotope method to quantify pollutant degradation and derive their origin.

Water isotopes (tritium, deuterium, oxygen-18) provide key information to assess the safety of drinking water by groundwater age dating. Since 2005, Isodetect has been conducting a large number of groundwater dating studies, the results of which are integrated into a nationwide map overview. In addition, we introduce these tool in new investigation concepts for heavy rain risk assessments.

In the EU LIFE project SEDREMED we follow natural and technologically stimulated decomposition processes of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in a contaminated marine coastal sediment of Bagnoli, Napoli. Novel methods for preparation and success control of innovative remediation technologies from EKOGRID & IDRABEL, are developed together with the University of Ancona and the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn.

LIFE MySoil is a joint project of 8 European partners in which special fungi are cultivated and introduced into contaminated soil for purification. For the first time, Isodetect is using innovative in situ microcosms (MYCOTRAPS) to prepare and monitor the success of this soil remediation process.

We are pleased to accept analytical orders from a great variety of research projects. For example, Isodetect analyzed primate hair (gorillas, chimpanzees) within the PanAf project at the Max Planck Institute for Anthropology in Leipzig. We look forward to similar challenges.