Project number: 18-07585S
Project title: Isotope fractionation as a tool for identifying cadmium and zinc sorption mechanisms in soils
Programme: GAČR, Standard project
Project coordinator: Ing. Hana Jenšíková
Project partners: PřF Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci
Project leader: prof. RNDr. Michael Komárek, Ph.D.
Project schedule: 2018 - 2020
Total project budget: 4 278 000 CZK
Abstract:
Cadmium and Zn isotopes have been recently used as tracers of pollution in the environment. Their adsorption to different soil constituents can be accompanied by isotope fractionation, which can hypothetically result from changes in the coordination environment of the adsorbate and thus could provide important information on the sorption mechanisms, e. g., inner- vs.outer-sphere surface complexation. These have been previously identified only by spectroscopic analyses (e. g., EXAFS). However, contradictory findings and explanations of these isotope-related phenomena are often presented, probably due to the different experimental conditions used. This project thus aims at providing consistent and robust data on Cd and Zn isotope fractionation during adsorption onto different soil constituents, i.e., Fe and Mn (oxyhydr) oxides, clay minerals and soil organic matter and subsequently during their adsorption in contaminated soils in general. We will propose a method based on isotope analyses that could help identify the sorption mechanisms.