The SOMER Group works across tailing pedogenesis, degraded soil rehabilitation, organo-mineral interactions, and elemental biogeochemical processes through an integrated framework linking controlled laboratory studies, mesocosm-scale greenhouse experiments, mine-site field validation, and molecular-, nano-, and 3D structural characterization. Our methodological strength relies on in-house platforms as well as long-term collaborations with large-scale facilities, analytical centers, commercial testing platforms, ecological field stations, and mine-site partners.
Synchrotron and Advanced Spectroscopy
- XAFS for resolving oxidation state, coordination environment, and mineral phase transformation of Fe, Al, Si, and related elements.
- Synchrotron FTIR mapping for identifying organic functional group distributions and their spatial coupling with mineral phases.
- STXM for micro- to nano-scale characterization of co-localization patterns between organic matter and minerals.
Nano- and Molecular-Scale Characterization
- NanoSIMS for micro-scale elemental mapping and organo-mineral interface analysis.
- FTICR-MS / Orbitrap-MS for molecular-level characterization of complex organic matter mixtures and transformation pathways.
- Micro-CT for three-dimensional reconstruction of aggregates and soil pore structures.
Controlled and Field Experimental Platforms
- Indoor climate chambers for controlled studies of temperature, moisture, plants, and microbial processes.
- Large automated greenhouse facilities for mesocosm-scale tailing pedogenesis, plant establishment, and soil process simulations.
- Mine-site field experiments at thousand-square-meter scale for testing tailing rehabilitation and pedogenesis processes under real field conditions.
- Collaborations with ecological field stations for long-term monitoring, cross-site comparisons, and field process validation.
Shared Analytical Resources
- Infrared and micro-FTIR spectroscopy for characterizing minerals, organic functional groups, and their spatial distributions.
- Atomic force microscopy and confocal Raman microscopy for mineral surface morphology, interfacial structure, and micro-scale compositional analysis.
- Elemental analysis, TOC/TN measurement, and stable isotope analysis for quantifying carbon, nitrogen, water sources, and transformation processes.
- Liquid and gas chromatography for small organic molecules, metabolites, and reaction products.