Research interests:

Within my PhD project I investigate the fate and transport of microplastic particles in the interface of fluvial/terrestrial systems in Rhine floodplains of Cologne, Germany. A special concern is the investigation of vertical transport mechanisms of microplastic in these floodplain soils to estimate the potential migration into groundwater.

Publications:

• Rolf. M., Laermanns, H., Horn, J., Kienzler, L., Pohl, C., Dierkes, G., Kernchen, S., Laforsch, C., Löder, M.G.J., Bogner, C. (2024). Multi-method analysis of microplastic distribution by flood frequency and local topography in Rhine floodplains. Science of the total environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171927.
• Rolf, M., Laermanns, H., Kienzler, L., Pohl, C., Möller, J.N., Laforsch, C., Löder, M.G.J., Bogner, C. (2022): Flooding frequency and floodplain topography determine abundance of microplastics in an alluvial Rhine soil. Science of the total environment. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155141.

Presentations at conferences:

• EGU2025 European Geoscience Union. General Assembly, 28.04.-02.05.2025, Vienna, Austria. "Understanding the formation and influence of soil-typical eco-coronas on microplastics through laboratory and field incubation experiments" (Talk: R. Khaleel, M. Rolf , J. Wagenhofer, Y. Lu, H. Laermanns, A. Weig, F. Nitsche, M. Schott, C. Laforsch, M.G.J. Löder, C. Bogner).
• EGU2025 European Geoscience Union. General Assembly, 28.04.-02.05.2025, Vienna, Austria. "Floodplain vegetation filters microplastics during a major Rhine flood event" (Talk: M. Rolf, H. Laermanns, C. Laforsch, M.G.J. Löder, C. Bogner).
• EGU2025 European Geoscience Union. General Assembly, 28.04.-02.05.2025, Vienna, Austria. "What do we learn from Current Studies of microplastics Transport in Soils? Investigating the Impact of Dispersants on Soil and MPs Behavior Using a New Improved Dispersant-Free Soil Column Experiment Protocol" (Poster: Y. Lu, M. Rolf , H. Liu, J. Brehm, R. Khaleel, H. Laermanns, J. Wagenhofer, C. Laforsch, F. Nitsche, M.G.J. Löder, S. Gekle, C. Bogner).
• MICRO 2024 Plastic pollution from macro to micro, 23.-27.09.2024, Lanzarote, Spain. “A spatial analysis of macroplastic littering in urban parksof Cologne, Germany.” (Talk: H. Laermanns, L. Gorges, R. Khaleel, M. Rolf, C. Bogner).
• MICRO 2024 Plastic pollution from macro to micro, 23.-27.09.2024, Lanzarote, Spain. “Filter effect of Rhine floodplain vegetation on microplastic deposition during a single flood event in Germany” (Talk: M. Rolf, H. Laermanns, C. Laforsch, M.G. J. Löder, C. Bogner).
• MICRO 2024 Plastic pollution from macro to micro, 23.-27.09.2024, Lanzarote, Spain. “A comparative study of microplastics under the influence of soiltypical eco-coronas through laboratory and field incubation experiments” (Poster: R. Khaleel, M. Rolf, J. Wagenhofer, Y. Lu, H. Laermanns, A. Weig, M.G.J. Löder, F. Nitsche, C. Bogner).
• MICRO 2024 Plastic pollution from macro to micro, 23.-27.09.2024, Lanzarote, Spain. “Behaviour and Transport of Microplastics under Saturated flow conditions in Sediments and Soils” (Poster: Y. Lu, M. Rolf, H. Liu, R. Khaleel, H. Laermanns, J. Wagenhofer, F. Nitsche, M.G.J. Löder, S. Gekle,  C. Bogner).
• Centennial Congress of theInternational Union of Soil Sciences, 19.-21.05.2025, Florence, Italy. "Abundance and spatial distribution of microplastics in the floodplain soils along the Rhine river in Germany" (Talk: C. Bogner, M. Rolf, H. Laermanns, L. Kienzler, J. Horn, G. Dierkes, C. Pohl, C. Laforsch, M.G.J. Löder).
• Deutscher Kongress der Geographie (DKG), 18.-22.09.2023, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. "Deciphering surface transport mechanisms of microplastic particles caused by irrigation and run-off" (Talk: H. Laermanns, M.Rolf, D. Haas, F. Steininger, M.G.J. Löder, C. Bogner).
• Jahrestagung der Deutschen Bodengesellschaft (DBG), 04.-08.09.2023, Halle, Germany. "Visualization of the transport of fluorescent microplastics in soil columns" (Poster: H.Laermanns, M.Rolf, C. Kleine, H. Ketges, C. Bogner).
• EGU2023 European Geoscience Union. General Assembly, 23.-28.04.2023, Vienna, Austria. "The influence of microplastics on the hydraulic properties of the water retention curve" (Poster: H. Laermanns, M. Rolf, S.Forche, E. Castrucci, C. Bogner).
• UNESCO-EU H2020 LimnoPlast Conference, 06.03.-09.03.2023, Paris, France. "Microplastic abundance in the Rhine floodplains determined by local topography and flood frequency" (Poster: H. Laermanns, M. Rolf, J.Horn, L. Kienzler, C.Pohl, G. Dierkes, S. Kernchen, J. Möller, C. Laforsch, M.G.J. Löder, C. Bogner).
• Micro 2022 - Plastic pollution from Micro to Nano, 14.-18.11.2022, Lanzarote, Spain. "A multi-method analysis of microplastic abundance in RHine floodplains as a function of their local topography and flood frequencies" (Talk: M. Rolf, H. Laermanns, J. Horn, L. Kienzler, C. Pohl, G. Dierkes, S. Kernchen, J. Möller, C. Laforsch, M.G.J. Löder, C. Bogner).
• Micro 2022 - Plastic pollution from Micro to Nano, 14.-18.11.2022, Lanzarote, Spain. "Transport mechanisms of pristine and bio-fould microplastic particles on rough surfaces" (Talk: H. Laermanns, M. Rolf, D. Haas, F. Steininger, M.G.J. Löder, C. Bogner).
• LED Germany, 05.-06-11-2022, Bonn, Germany. "Contribution of optically stimulated luminescence dating to decipher vertical distribution of microplastic in a floodplain of the river Rhine in Cologne, Germany" (Poster: M. Gröbner, S. Riedesel, M. Rolf, H. Laermanns, T. Reimann, C. Bogner).
• 3. TransMIT Workshop on Modern Spectroscopic Techniques, 18.-25.06.2022, Elba, Italy. "Tracing transport and distribution of microplastic in soils - from laboratory experiments to field studies" (Talk: H. Laermanns, M. Rolf, D. Haas, M. Klee, F. Steininger, C. Bogner).
• 3. TransMIT Workshop on Modern Spectroscopic Techniques, 18.-25.06.2022, Elba, Italy. "A multi-method analysis of microplastic demonstrates their abundance depends on flood frequencies and local topography in Rhine floodplains" (Talk: M. Rolf, H. Laermanns, L. Kienzler, C. Pohl, J. Möller, C. Laforsch, M. Löder, C. Bogner).
• EGU2022 European Geoscience Union. General Assembly, 23.-27.05.2022, Vienna, Austria. "Interplay of topography, flood frequency and soil properties determine the distribution of microplastics in a Rhine floodplain" (Talk: M. Rolf, H. Laermanns, L. Kienzler, C. Pohl, J. Möller, C. Laforsch, M. Löder, C. Bogner).
• EGU2022 European Geoscience Union. General Assembly, 23.-27.05.2022, Vienna, Austria. "Comparing the transport of pristine and biofouled microplastic particles on rough surfaces" (Talk: H. Laermanns, D. Haas, M. Rolf, F. Steininger, M. Löder, C. Bogner).
• EGU2022 European Geoscience Union. General Assembly, 23.-27.05.2022, Vienna, Austria. "Visualization of fluorescent microplastics in soil column experiments in different depths" (Talk: C. Bogner, M. Rolf, H. Laermanns).
• EGU2021 - Engage, Discover, Inspire, "Temporal and spatial analysis of riverine microplastic in a Rhine floodplain soil in Germany " (Talk: M. Rolf, M. G. J. Löder, H. Laermanns, L. Kienzler, F. Steininger, J. Möller and C. Bogner)
• YES2021 - 10th Young Enviromental Scientists Meeting, "Spatial distribution of microplastics in an alluvial floodplain soil in Germany" (Talk: M. Rolf, H. Laermanns, F. Steininger, J. Möller, M. G. J. Löder and C. Bogner).
• MICRO 2020 - Fate and impact of microplastics, 23.-27.11.2020, Lanzarote, Spain and beyond (digital). "Accumulation of microplastic in a Lower Rhine alluvial floodplain in Germany." (talk: M. Rolf, H. Laermanns, F. Steininger, M. Löder, J. Möller, C. Bogner).
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Teaching:

• Gelände- und Kartierpraktikum Rheinauen, 18.-21.03..2024, Niederrhein (zusammen mit H. Laermanns).

Education:

Since 11/20: PhD-Candidate, Institute of Geography, Ecosystem Research, University of Cologne

11/20: Master of Science: "Occurence of microplastic in an alluvial floodplain in Germany", International Master of Environmental Sciences, Universität zu Köln

07/14: Bachelor of Science: "Interdiffusionsversuche von Fe mit einer AlZn 2,5 -Legierung", Nano- und Materialwissenschaften, Westfälische Hochschule

Student assistant:

11/19 - 06/20: Institute of Geography, Ecosystem Research, University of Cologne

06/14 - 11/14: Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung, Düsseldorf; Bereich: Materialforschung