Environmental
Geochemistry
Laboratory
Department of Earth & Environmental Science
College of Sciences
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO
One UTSA Circle
Phone: (210)-458-5168 Fax: (210)-458-4469
Application of Low-Temperature Geochemistry and
Biogeochemistry
in Environmental Contamination Problems:
Characterization and quantification of various physico-chemical processes
that determine the behavior of inorganic and organic contaminants
in soils and sediments; the relevant processes and the interrelationships
among them over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Long-term
goals are to develop understanding based on experimental and theoretical
investigations, as well as to modify predictive capabilities of the
expected system behavior, management, control and remediation technologies.
Includes geo-chemical modeling and spectroscopic evaluation of processes
at liquid-solid-biota interface.
Application of Biogeochemistry in Waste Recycling and
Nutrient Management in Soils:
Evaluation of field, greenhouse, and experimental data (macroscopic
and microscopic) to investigate plant and human bioavailability, aqueous
and solid phase speciation, dissolution, mineralization, precipitation
and adsorption mechanisms of chemicals (contaminants and nutrients)
in soils resulting from land application of domestic/industrial wastes.
Prescription of waste reuse options & Best Management Plans for
nutrients.
Application of Soil
Chemistry, Microbial Ecology, Plant Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology in Environmental
Remediation Problems:
Evaluation of chemical, microbial and phytoremediation
techniques to cleanup environmental contaminants. Biochemical and
molecular biological techniques are employed to study the mechanism of heavy
metal detoxification in plants, particularly Arsenic and Lead. Identification and characterization
of genes involved in the metal detoxification pathway.
Risk Assessment:
Estimation of ecological and human health risk for environmental decision-making, especially those involving protective and clean-up standards for contaminants already in the environment.
Recent Publications
Recent Presentations
Recent Grant Funding