Using potentiometric titrations, we have been able to measure the hydrolysis constants for hafnium at a number of solution ionic strengths. We are currently examining both the solubility of HfO2 and the stability constants of the carbonate complexes of Hf by solubility experiments. Future plans may include the study of Hf-silicate complexes as well. My research is primarily in the area of uranium chemistry. I am specifically working on techniques to visibly identify the reductive processes of metal reducing bacteria.
Anaerobic bacteria use uranium species in solution as a part of their metabolic process.
The research would be helpful near areas with significant uranium processing waste that has contaminated or threatens to contaminate groundwater sources. Lighter mass isotopes are favored in chemical processes. The rate of fractionation depends on the mass difference between the isotopes. It is unclear what the rate is at higher elements likeiron or uranium. Recent studies have seen a fractionation of iron isotopes by metal reducing bacteria, but there are no studies on uranium isotopic fractionation.