UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG

Environmental

                                                                                                                            

The Environmental Analytical Chemistry research group in the School of Chemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand is five years old. Initiated and lead by Prof. Ewa Cukrowska the group consists now three staff members and 15 MSc and PhD students.

The research projects are in two parallel but equal fields. The environmental component uses routine analytical techniques to obtain data to solve environmental problems through chemometric data validation, solution equilibria modeling, and development of predictive models. The analytical part is aimed to develop and optimize the new procedures for study of mainly metals speciation in environmental samples.


Speciation of inorganic and organic pollutants in the environment

Determination and modeling of their mobility, transport, and fate

  • Elemental analysis of metals and non-metals in various samples using spectro-, electro-, and chromatographic methods.
  • Speciation analysis of heavy metals, inorg. anions, and organic compounds in environmental and industrial samples.
  • Column soil leaching processes (total and sequential) Separation and preconcentration methods? supported liquid membrane extraction, BCR sequential extraction Development and optimisation of analytical procedures.
  • Sampling and samples treatment procedures for environmental monitoring Modelling of transport and fate of pollutants in the environment.
  • Environmental risk assessment Computer modelling of solution equilibria.
  • Predictive models development Chemometric data analysis.
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 Equipment available:

  • ICP MS 
  • ICP OES CCD
  • S with hydride generation
  • UV/VIS
  • IR
  • EcoLab electrochemical system (all electrochem. methods)
  • Voltammeter
  • ISE
  • HPLC
  • IC
  • GC, GC/MS
  • Eletrophoresis and izotacophoresis
  • SLM and sequential extractions
  • Column soils leaching equipment
  • Microwave and UV digestion
  • Classic wet analysis
  • Field measurements laboratory and sampling equipment
  • Scientific modeling computer software (JESS, Geochem. Workbench, Phreeqc2, SolEQ, MinteQ, Teach Me, Stella, StatGraph, Statistica, SAS)


 PROJECTS (completed and recently undertaken)

  • Water-sediments-soil equilibria in permanent and seasonal water systems.
  • Chromium redox speciation.
  • Transport and fate of heavy metals in the environment.
  • Organometallic (Sn, Pb) compounds speciation.
  • Toxicity of manganese.
  • Speciation and mobility of uranium in the environment.
  • Biological uptake of heavy metals by plants and animals (bioindicators, bioremediation)
  • Chemistry of air particulates.
  • Hydrocarbons in the environment - determination, mobility modeling and removal.
  • Green chemistry ? chemical and biological remediation of waters and soils polluted by hydrocarbons and heavy metals (chemcap and biocap)
  • ICP ? slurry analysis for monitoring of PGMs.
  • Chemometric validation and modeling of environmental data.
  • Column leaching of tailings dumps material as an analytical procedure for heavy metals mobility assessment.
  • Acid mine drainage ? determination, modeling of seasonal changes. Geochemical stud.

 Funds:

NRF, URC, Anglo Research, Anglo Gold, eskom, sasol, Holcim, Xstrata, SAFIC, NIOH, SPECTRO Analytical Instruments, Swiss Lab., THRIP.

 

 Collaboration:

Schools of Geosciences, APES, Chemical Eng.,
Molecular Cell Biology,
Medicine, Atmosphere & Energy Res. Group at WITS,
Duisburg-Essen Univ.-Germany, Lund Univ.- Sweden,
Pau Univ.-France, CSIR, NCOH.

 Teaching:

BSc: Environmental Chemistry course,
Honours: Environmental Chemistry and Chemical Trace Analysis courses,
PGD Env.Science: Environmental Chemistry course.