Molecular-based studies of geochemical interfaces in complex environments

• Grant number: 19/06800-5
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2021
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: André Henrique Rosa
• Grantee: André Henrique Rosa
• Host: Vicki Helene Grassian
• Home Institution: Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Sorocaba. Sorocaba , SP, Brazil
• Local de pesquisa : University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego), United States

Abstract

Molecular processes at geochemical interfaces control many natural processes which exerts influence in behaviour of chemical species in the environment. It is well known that the chemistry at the aqueous geochemical interface is complex due to the presence of many different components including natural organic matter, coordinating oxyanions and biological components present in water systems. Furthermore, surface chemistry plays an important role in the fate and transformation of chemical contaminants from various sources. The goal of the proposed activities will be to better understand molecular processes on geochemical interfaces to better understand the chemistry that occurs at geochemical interfaces in complex multi-component environments using vibrational spectroscopy as a probe. The first objective is to develop and integrate different vibrational spectroscopies to study of geochemical interfaces in complex media that contain natural organic matter, oxyanions and biological components. In particular, we plan to combine Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy with Atomic Force Microscopy-Infrared (AFM-IR) spectroscopy and Sum Frequency Generation (SFG) to investigate a range of components found in aqueous-geochemical systems. Integrating these approaches will be particularly helpful in discerning the nature of adsorbate-surface interactions at geochemical interfaces. The second objective is to investigate transformations of emergent contaminants on geochemical interfaces under different conditions. These proposed activities will address a multi approach techniques that can be used to better understand the fate and transformation of chemical contaminants on geochemical interfaces and their distribution in the environment.