Contaminant Research Lab

The Contaminant Research lab aims to better understand the interdisciplinary nexus of water-soil chemistry (i.e., hydrogeology) and soil-plant chemistry (i.e., edaphology). The water-soil interactions of many organic compounds exist and can be used to assess the potential correlation between concentrations found in groundwater and those sorbed to the soil based on contaminant source information. The soil-plant chemistry nexus is directly influenced by the interactions at the water-soil chemistry nexus. The mechanisms (e.g., phytoextraction, phytostabilization, phytotransformation, phytostimulation, phytovolatilization, and rhizofiltration) preferred by plant species capable of removing select compounds (e.g., PFAS) from the subsurface are poorly understood. We evaluate the efficacy of phytoscreening for the removal or immobilization of environmental contaminants.

Specifically, this work focuses on the transport and characterization of organic (i.e., PFAS, TCE, aldehydes, and pesticides) contaminants through the vadose zone and into the plant biome. Understanding the mechanistic and chemical processes influencing contaminant transport will aid in decision-making and policy creation for many emerging contaminants. As the removal of contaminants from the saturated and unsaturated zones of the subsurface through plant uptake (i.e., phytoremediation) is explored, recognition of the effects to groundwater quality and quantity is critical. We utilize current environmental techniques (i.e., solid phase extraction) and analytical instrumentation (i.e., uHPLC-MS-MS) to identify compounds in complex matrices, develop correlations, and relationships between soil-plant, plant-water, and water-soil concentrations. Current studies aim to identify plant species and tissue types suitable to accumulate organic contaminants (e.g., hyperaccumulators) for phytoremediation at and near known contaminant locations.