Posted on behalf of Dr. Paul Schofield (E-mail: pfs at nhm.ac.uk)
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The Natural History Museum require two Research Assistants to
carry out work related to a project investigating heavy metal
stabilisation via insoluble phosphate formation in soils.
Project description
The remediation of metal contaminated soils and waste ground
is of growing importance due to both government pressure for
the re-use of brown field sites and concerns about the
environmental effects of concentrations of potentially toxic
metals. At present the most common way of remediating metal
contaminated sites is either to cap the site or to excavate
and dump the contaminated soil elsewhere. However, neither of
these two practices actually renders the contaminated soil
safe, but simply bypasses the problem by erecting some form of
barrier between the contaminated soil and the biosphere. An
alternative chemical / mineralogical method of rendering
metals immobile and non-bioavailable in situ focuses on
converting the metals present in the soil into metal
phosphates. Metal phosphates are highly insoluble and are
stable over almost the entire range of Eh and pH encountered
in the natural environment. In principal once metal phosphates
form, the metals are "locked up" in situ and are no longer
able to interact with the environment. Thus the metals no
longer pose a pollution threat.
The research will build on work previously carried out at The
Natural History Museum testing a new process. The two
vacancies will further this work by improving our ability to
detect the newly formed metal phosphates in soil (Job 1); and
by carrying out field trials, using the new method (Job 2).
The work will be carried out in collaboration with Dr. Mark
Hodson (PRIS, Reading University) and Dr. Janet Cotter-Howells
(Aberdeen University).
Job description
Job 1 will focus on synthesising and characterising (by X-Ray
Diffraction, micro-Raman spectroscopy and Electron Microscopy)
a range of metal phosphates, as analogues to those forming in
treated soils.
Job 2 will involve setting up field and lab experiments, using
the new method, followed by monitoring changes in the
contaminated soils, using ICP-AES, X-Ray Diffraction and
Electron Microscopy.
The two contracts are both for one year and may suit persons
who have recently completed a MSc or PhD in the field of
earth, soil, environmental sciences or chemistry/chemical
engineering.
Salary is in the range £16,000 to £21,000, subject to age and
qualifications. Starting date: May 1st, 2000, or as soon as
possible after that.
For more information or an informal discussion please contact:
Job 1: Dr. Paul Schofield on 0207 942 5184, e-mail: pfs at nhm.ac.uk
Job 2: Dr Eva Valsami-Jones on 0207 942 5334, e-mail: evj at nhm.ac.uk
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