Understanding the role of clay mineral redox reactions for metal contaminant fate

This project is part of the ONE Planet DTP. Find out more here: https://research.ncl.ac.uk/one-planet/

Anthropogenic actitivies have in the past and continue today to pollute water and terrestrial ecosystems with metal contaminants. Mineral phases, in particular iron-bearing minerals, strongly affect the environmental fate of metal contaminants via sorption and redox transformation. Only recently have we found that interactions of clay minerals, which are ubiquitously present iron-bearing minerals in natural sedimentary environments, with dissolved iron lead to the redox-activation of clay minerals and the formation of new iron mineral phase(s). Currently, the role of these processes and the resulting mineral assemblage for metal contaminant fate is unknown. This project aims to develop a mechanistic understanding of the interactions involved by addressing the above research questions.
This project will be laboratory based and make use of the outstanding facilities in the Environmental Engineering laboratories at Newcastle University. Key equipment and methods to be used include an anaerobic glovebox, enabling experiments under controlled environmental conditions; analytical instruments for metal analysis (ICP-OES, ICP-MS); and techniques for mineral characterization (XRD, FT-IR, Mössbauer spectroscopy). The value of further state-of-the-art methods for mineral characterization such as electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) or synchrotron-based spectroscopy (XANES, EXAFS) can be explored during the initial proposal development process and with prospective co-supervisors and/or external collaborators.
The skills gained during the project would emcompass cutting-edge experimentation and analytical methods in the areas of environmental chemistry, geochemistry, and mineralogy. Specific training needs will be identified and adressed in a personal training plan, which will also include transferable skills such as critical analysis and writing, or effective communications.
The project requires a background in environmental chemistry, geochemistry, soil science or a related discipline, with experience in the laboratory.
For more information, please contact Dr Anke Neumann ([Email Address Removed]).