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Zhi
Ling Zeng |
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| Position |
PhD Student |
E-mail |
z.zeng@cmlr.uq.edu.au |
Phone/Fax |
(P) +61 7 3365 7429
(F) +61 7 3365 3452 |
Topic |
Copper Bioavailability in Mining Contaminated Waters |
Project Summary |
Copper is a common contaminant in mined land, and an essential nutrient for plant growth. At excessive levels, it may be toxic to vegetation employed in rehabilitation. The metal exists in the environment in a number of forms (e.g.
Cu2+, inorganic complexes, organic complexes and colloidal bound fraction). However, only selected species are available for direct plant uptake. Current heavy metal risk assessment procedures and environmental regulations are often based on total or dissolved metal content, which has little correlation with phytotoxicity. Metal speciation at equilibrium, particularly the free ion activity in solution, appears to govern the extent of copper bioavailability and toxicity under specific conditions.
Numerous techniques have been developed to predict plant metal uptake, yet none has gained wide acceptance. The overall objective of this project is to develop or identify accurate methods for the assessment of copper bioavailability in contaminated waters. Currently, we are working on an integrated approach combining chemical measurement and modeling techniques in conjunction with a microbial bioassay using the freshwater algae,
Chlorella sp. to assess copper bioavailability in water samples.
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