Carbon conundrum: Functional characterisation of organic matter-clay mineral interactions in relation to carbon sequestration

土壤固碳已被认为是减少温室气体排放的可能措施之一。土壤固碳的主要过程包括土壤颗粒对碳的化学固定和土壤微团聚体孔隙中的物理保护。这两个过程是通过土壤有机质和粘土矿物相互作用的功能关系来介导的。该项目研究了纳米级有机矿物的关联基础微团聚体的形成和稳定性，以及微团聚体中碳的分布和微生物分解，使用一套先进的光谱，分子和同位素技术。

Carbon sequestration in soil has been recognised as one of the possible measures through which greenhouse gas emissions can be mitigated. The major processes involved in carbon sequestration in soil include chemical immobilisation of carbon with soil particles and physical protection in the pores of soil microaggregates. These two processes are mediated through the functional relationships of soil organic matter and clay mineral interactions in soils. This project investigates nanoscale organomineral association underlying microaggregate formation and stability, as well as the distribution and microbial decomposition of carbon within microaggregates using a suite of advanced spectroscopic, molecular and isotopic techniques.