Our research encompassed both laboratory and field research. The former was used to determine specific reaction mechanisms and kinetic parameters while the latter was conducted to substantiate the cycling of these toxins within natural systems.
Inorganic contaminants are a wide-spread problem that jeopardize environmental quality.
Unlike organic molecules that may undergo degradation, inorganic ions cannot be transformed into innocuous species. Their longevity in the environment therefore makes them of great concern. In particular, understanding reactions of redox-reactive trace elements is important due to large differences in toxicity and bioavailability of different oxidation states. In this study, we will investigate redox and sorption reactions of arsenic and chromium that affect both their hazards and risks in the environment. A primary emphasis of this research is on reduction reactions, biological and chemical, that transform arsenic and chromium species upon the transition from aerobic to anaerobic conditions.