Towards ultra-trace element measurements in organic-rich samples: tracing past and modern environmental changes
Lead Research Organisation:
Cardiff University
Department Name: Sch of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Abstract
Earth's environment is everchanging. The causes and consequences of environmental changes are complex and represent a significant research frontier from which significant academic and societal impact can be derived if overcome. However, our capacity to study them are currently limited by our ability to measure a range of key biogeochemical tracers in environmental archives using state-of-art techniques. We aim to take a new step in analytical environmental geochemistry by setting up an ultra-trace element measurement facility specifically designed to interogate samples tracing past and present environmental change to understand i) how the Earth became habitable; ii) how anthropogenic activity affects climate, oceans, soils and groundwater and; iii) fingerprint sources of critical metals for a greener economy.
Current limitations hinge around the challenging aspect of environmental archives which are typically rich in organic material difficult to digest, and the fact that key biogeochemical tracers are both in very low-abundance and affected by detrimental interferences in mass spectrometers. We will remedy these issues by setting up Microwave Digestion triple quadrupole ICP-MS facility (MD-Qubed) specifically designed to measure very low-abundance of technically challenging trace-elements in organic-rich samples.
By allowing the quantification of the cycling of key biogeochemical tracers present in ultra-low level in environmental archives across the entire periodic table, this unique analytical facility will enable groundbreaking studies to tackle first order challenges pertaining to Earth's past, present and future environmental changes. Indeed, if some compounds like phosphate and nitrate are critical nutrients for life, others like uranium or arsenic are poisonous. Determination of the abundance of such geochemical tracers in organic-rich sediments precipitated from the oceans can act as fingerprints of past ocean chemistry. For instance, phosphate-levels in these samples can inform about nutrient limitation in past oceans and help decipher controls on the evolution of life. Other elements, like uranium, selenium and molybdenum, in the same sediments, or boron and lithium in marine carbonate archives (e.g., foraminifera, corals), may respectively tell about oxygen and carbon level of the oceans and atmosphere. Similarly, we aim to understand the distribution and mobility of anthropogenically-derived poisonous elements (e.g: uranium, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt...) in water, soils and sediments, and their impact on modern life-forms. Thus, studying elements in geological and modern samples is critical for tracing both past and modern environmental changes.
A key aim of our facility will also be to develop methods to trace anthropogenic pollution related to mining and industrial activities but also sources of critical metals for a greener future. The improved detection limits of the MD-Qubed facility will allow tracing of key trace metals such selenium and tellurium in soils, elements that are necessary for a transition towards the green technology revolution. We will also take advantage of this technology to trace radionuclides (e.g., uranium, plutonium,...) in samples and marine organisms to examine potential toxicity and mobility through the Earth System. Such studies will work towards adapting viable mining approaches and the potential for pollution remedies for a greener sustainable future environment.
Finally, setting up such a unique facility in Wales and the South West of the UK will benefit a large range of research groups interested in environmental changes, both regionally and nationally. It will also complement the newly set-up Cardiff Earth Laboratory for Trace Element and Isotope Chemistry (CELTIC) and doing so establish a new cutting-edge analytical facility in this region.
Current limitations hinge around the challenging aspect of environmental archives which are typically rich in organic material difficult to digest, and the fact that key biogeochemical tracers are both in very low-abundance and affected by detrimental interferences in mass spectrometers. We will remedy these issues by setting up Microwave Digestion triple quadrupole ICP-MS facility (MD-Qubed) specifically designed to measure very low-abundance of technically challenging trace-elements in organic-rich samples.
By allowing the quantification of the cycling of key biogeochemical tracers present in ultra-low level in environmental archives across the entire periodic table, this unique analytical facility will enable groundbreaking studies to tackle first order challenges pertaining to Earth's past, present and future environmental changes. Indeed, if some compounds like phosphate and nitrate are critical nutrients for life, others like uranium or arsenic are poisonous. Determination of the abundance of such geochemical tracers in organic-rich sediments precipitated from the oceans can act as fingerprints of past ocean chemistry. For instance, phosphate-levels in these samples can inform about nutrient limitation in past oceans and help decipher controls on the evolution of life. Other elements, like uranium, selenium and molybdenum, in the same sediments, or boron and lithium in marine carbonate archives (e.g., foraminifera, corals), may respectively tell about oxygen and carbon level of the oceans and atmosphere. Similarly, we aim to understand the distribution and mobility of anthropogenically-derived poisonous elements (e.g: uranium, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt...) in water, soils and sediments, and their impact on modern life-forms. Thus, studying elements in geological and modern samples is critical for tracing both past and modern environmental changes.
A key aim of our facility will also be to develop methods to trace anthropogenic pollution related to mining and industrial activities but also sources of critical metals for a greener future. The improved detection limits of the MD-Qubed facility will allow tracing of key trace metals such selenium and tellurium in soils, elements that are necessary for a transition towards the green technology revolution. We will also take advantage of this technology to trace radionuclides (e.g., uranium, plutonium,...) in samples and marine organisms to examine potential toxicity and mobility through the Earth System. Such studies will work towards adapting viable mining approaches and the potential for pollution remedies for a greener sustainable future environment.
Finally, setting up such a unique facility in Wales and the South West of the UK will benefit a large range of research groups interested in environmental changes, both regionally and nationally. It will also complement the newly set-up Cardiff Earth Laboratory for Trace Element and Isotope Chemistry (CELTIC) and doing so establish a new cutting-edge analytical facility in this region.
Planned Impact
Impact and measures:
The most important impacts of the asset will be the development of new methods to investigate key understudied trace elements in organic rich samples and the development of new interdisciplinary collaborations including Earth Science - Environmental Engineering. This would enable the facility to be at the heart of efforts towards the green technology revolution in Wales. The innovative set up will also further diversify the biogeochemical toolbox available for a range of environmental studies including fingerprinting and monitoring anthropogenic pollution. It will positively impact the UK Earth and Environmental Science community by cementing Cardiff University's position as a cutting edge analytical centre in the international arena.
Impact will be measured by research publications on new applications and associated citations, grant income raised, and the number of external collaborations created with both academic and industrial partners using the asset for their research needs.
Social and economic benefits
Our research plans strike a balance between blue sky and applied research. One of our key research objectives is the fingerprinting of anthropogenic actinide pollution in soils and water samples as well as marine organisms. This area of research is of particular importance for South Wales and the South West of the UK where significant anthropogenic pollution has been recorded and where planned future nuclear waste disposal may affect the environment. The much lower detection limit attainable for key radionuclides with the MD-Qubed will lead to improved environmental monitoring from nuclear forensics and better understanding of toxicity. Such results have the potential to be of high interest to the general public and lead to both social and economic benefits at the regional scale.
Usage and beneficiaries of outputs:
Because of its stated aim to study environmental changes through the Earth System from past to future, the MD-Qubed facility possess significant potential to positively impact a large range of beneficiaries both within and outside of academia.
A broad range of Earth Scientists will use data and associated knowledge produced using this facility to interrogate a range of Earth System processes relevant for our future world, from ocean oxygenation and nutrient cycling to climate-carbon cycle interactions. Investigators will engage with policy makers (e.g. via our connections with Welsh Assembly) and stakeholders to maximise impact to users outside of academia.
The facility will enable investigators to develop new geochemical tools and methodologies which will be described in open access publications to enable knowledge transfer worldwide across a range of disciplines including Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Archaeology, and Biosciences.
The facility will enable new collaborations with industry, including those seeking to sustainably source critical metals required for a green technology revolution. Industry partners will use our data and knowledge to make future business plans.
Data, methods and knowledge concerning low level but highly toxic pollutants could be used by stakeholders such as Natural Resource Wales to inform and improve monitoring and remediation procedures.
Early career researchers could benefit from access to a unique analytical facility and strengthened networks within the GW4+ community as well as between Cardiff University and other universities in Wales and the rest of the UK. We will enable the sharing of skills and knowledge by training early career researchers.
Whenever it is possible research outputs, including all data and newly developed analytical methods, will be published in international open-access peer-reviewed journals to maximise impact in the scientific community
The most important impacts of the asset will be the development of new methods to investigate key understudied trace elements in organic rich samples and the development of new interdisciplinary collaborations including Earth Science - Environmental Engineering. This would enable the facility to be at the heart of efforts towards the green technology revolution in Wales. The innovative set up will also further diversify the biogeochemical toolbox available for a range of environmental studies including fingerprinting and monitoring anthropogenic pollution. It will positively impact the UK Earth and Environmental Science community by cementing Cardiff University's position as a cutting edge analytical centre in the international arena.
Impact will be measured by research publications on new applications and associated citations, grant income raised, and the number of external collaborations created with both academic and industrial partners using the asset for their research needs.
Social and economic benefits
Our research plans strike a balance between blue sky and applied research. One of our key research objectives is the fingerprinting of anthropogenic actinide pollution in soils and water samples as well as marine organisms. This area of research is of particular importance for South Wales and the South West of the UK where significant anthropogenic pollution has been recorded and where planned future nuclear waste disposal may affect the environment. The much lower detection limit attainable for key radionuclides with the MD-Qubed will lead to improved environmental monitoring from nuclear forensics and better understanding of toxicity. Such results have the potential to be of high interest to the general public and lead to both social and economic benefits at the regional scale.
Usage and beneficiaries of outputs:
Because of its stated aim to study environmental changes through the Earth System from past to future, the MD-Qubed facility possess significant potential to positively impact a large range of beneficiaries both within and outside of academia.
A broad range of Earth Scientists will use data and associated knowledge produced using this facility to interrogate a range of Earth System processes relevant for our future world, from ocean oxygenation and nutrient cycling to climate-carbon cycle interactions. Investigators will engage with policy makers (e.g. via our connections with Welsh Assembly) and stakeholders to maximise impact to users outside of academia.
The facility will enable investigators to develop new geochemical tools and methodologies which will be described in open access publications to enable knowledge transfer worldwide across a range of disciplines including Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Archaeology, and Biosciences.
The facility will enable new collaborations with industry, including those seeking to sustainably source critical metals required for a green technology revolution. Industry partners will use our data and knowledge to make future business plans.
Data, methods and knowledge concerning low level but highly toxic pollutants could be used by stakeholders such as Natural Resource Wales to inform and improve monitoring and remediation procedures.
Early career researchers could benefit from access to a unique analytical facility and strengthened networks within the GW4+ community as well as between Cardiff University and other universities in Wales and the rest of the UK. We will enable the sharing of skills and knowledge by training early career researchers.
Whenever it is possible research outputs, including all data and newly developed analytical methods, will be published in international open-access peer-reviewed journals to maximise impact in the scientific community
