Research and education. Research group Prof. Gijs Du Laing

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1 Research and education Research group Prof. Gijs Du Laing Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Ecochemistry (ECOCHEM) Faculty of Bioscience Engineering Ghent University Education Courses / teaching: Chemical Analytical Methods: focus on methods on analysis of inorganic compounds Volumetric and gravimetric methods Introduction to spectrometric and electroanalytical methods Instrumental Inorganic Analysis Advanced spectrometric and electroanalytical methods Trace and Isotope Analysis Speciation analysis of trace elements and isotopes Ecochemistry of Heavy Metals / Environmental Fate and Management of Heavy Metals and Metalloids Summerschool on Environmental Technology and Engineering + Research Skills (from 2012 onwards)

2 Education Coordination of new international Erasmus Mundus Master Programme: «Master of Science in Environmental Technology and Engineering» (IMETE) 2 year Master program (120 ECTS): General and specialised compulsoryand elective courses, summer school, thesis research Jointlyorganisedby: Ghent University (Belgium, co-ordinator), UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education (The Netherlands), Institute of Chemical Technology Prague (Czech Republic) Associated Partners (companies, universities and research institutes): Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Germany, India, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, The Netherlands, Uganda, USA Education Students trained to: develop and apply technologiesfor prevention and remediation of environmental pollution develop professional and scientific skills, pragmatic and leadership attitude Focus on international cooperation in business and research Students gain multi-cultural experience by studying with other students from European and non-european countries International mobility integral part of the programme: students studyat3 Europeancountries + thesisresearchin a (non-) European country (focus on emerging markets) International guest lecturers

3 Education For students from EU and non-eu countries, developed, developing and transition countries Scholarships(European Commission Erasmus Mundus) available for both European and non-european students Degree = Joint International Master s Degree in Environmental Technology and Engineering More information: Research Application of trace element speciation and stable isotope analysis in bioscience engineering Speciation = form in which an element occurs total Focus on use of (HPLC-)ICP-MS

4 Arsenic Arsenic Arsenite highest toxicity, arsenobetaine lowest toxicity (10000x lower) Different forms: different mobility (e.g., in soils) Total arsenic contents not representative for environmental and human health risk

5 Arsenic factors affecting the fate of Arsenic and other trace elements in wetlands of the Scheldt estuary (Belgium) Du Laing et al., 2009, J. Environ. Monit., 11, Arsenic factors affecting presence of Arsenic in Bolivian groundwater used as drinking water

6 Arsenic removal of Arsenic from Bolivian drinking water Van Den Bergh et al., 2010, J. Environ. Sci. Health Part A, 45, Arsenic factors affecting Arsenic speciation during food preparation and digestion in the human intestinal tract (focus on As-rich rice)

7 Selenium selenate (+VI) selenite (+IV) selenocysteine selenocystine selenomethionine selenoproteins Selenium Role in metabolism: selenocysteine in glutathione peroxidases (GPx) and thyroid hormone deiodinases (DIO), synergy with vitamin E Deficiency: e.g. mastitis, Kashin-Beck

8 Selenium Too high uptake toxicity Toxicity, bioavailability and health effects depend on speciation In Belgium: often lack of Selenium observed in cattle Selenium supplementation through feed supplements: switch from inorganic to organic Se species (e.g. selenomethionine in Se-enriched yeast) Selenium Food: focus on Se-methylselenocysteine and γ-glutamyl-semethylselenocysteine anticarcinogenic effect in rats

9 Selenium increasing the uptake of bioactive Se species by Seaccumulating food crops (focus on leek) factors affecting Selenium speciation in the human intestinal tract (focus on Se-enriched food crops and food supplements) Mercury factors affecting the fate of Mercury in floodplains and wetlands fate of Mercury during ex situ and in situ thermal treatment of polluted soils

10 Metallic nanoparticles / nanotechnology Small metallic particles (<100 nm) May be used as efficient catalyser in groundwater remediation and wastewater treatment, industrial and domestic applications Risk for environment and human health when released into the environment Lien & Zhang, 2005, J. Environ. Eng. 131, 4-10 Metallic nanoparticles / nanotechnology Coagulation and precipitation catalytic activity, mobility and toxicity changes Laban et al., 2010, Ecotoxicology 19, Role of speciation

11 Metallic nanoparticles / nanotechnology Ion release catalytic activity, mobility and toxicity changes Liu et al., 2010, Environ. Sci. Technol. 44, Role of speciation Metallic nanoparticles / nanotechnology Factors affecting the physicochemical fate of metallic nanoparticles in surface water Use of (bi)metallic nanoparticles as catalyser in groundwater remediation Use of HDC-ICP-MS as analytical technique to analyse nanoparticles in different size classes

12 Presentations PhD students: Pradeep Alava: factors affecting As speciation during food digestion (and preparation) Rama Venkata Srikanth Lavu: factors affecting uptake of bioactive Se species by food crops Frederik Van Koetsem: factors affecting physicochemical fate of metallic nanoparticles in surface water Contact/information: