Applied Geochemistry | Contaminant Analysis

Applied Geochemistry Section

Introduction

This Section has the following basic objectives:

Analysis of pollution processes in mining environments
Conducting impact assessment studies in these types of environments
Evaluation of remediation alternatives.

To this end, it has the Laboratory of Heavy Metals Biogeochemistry, attached to the Almadén Polytechnic School, which is equipped with a complete set of facilities and instruments acquired through projects funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, European LIFE-Environment funds, as well as specific infrastructure calls.

The Laboratory currently includes around 12 researchers, partly belonging to UCLM staff, and partly to researchers from other national and international universities, who are regular collaborators in ongoing projects, most of them linked to the Environmental Geochemistry of Potentially Toxic Metals Research Group at UCLM.

Location

The Section is located in the Heavy Metals Biogeochemistry Laboratory, in a dedicated building of the Almadén Polytechnic School.

Objectives

The main objective of the Applied Geochemistry Section is the characterization of heavy metal contents in the environment, both from geological and biological perspectives, with the ultimate goal of mitigating their effects.

The section is based on a multinational group of researchers integrated into the so-called Mining and Environment Studies Group ( GEMM ), which has been working on this topic. This GEMM is composed of UCLM professors who are also part of the research group " Environmental Geochemistry of Heavy Metals " at UCLM, together with professors from other national and international universities.

The issues addressed by the section include the following aspects:

Environmental monitoring of problems related to mining pollution , including biota, soils, water, and atmosphere, as well as, where appropriate, other related pollutants: noise, air blast, etc. Currently, the group is working on these topics with funding from National and Regional R&D&I Plans, as well as from the European LIFE-ENVIRONMENT Program. As a result of this work, a strong multinational and multidisciplinary research network (GEMM) has been established; also, nearly 25 SCI publications in the last five years and the acquisition of equipment and infrastructure currently available and integrated into the Institute through this Section can be considered significant achievements.
Impact and risk assessment studies related to the presence of mining contaminants in the environment. This is derived from the previous objective: environmental monitoring, combined with data on geographical distribution of contaminants, proximity to populated areas or sensitive fauna, chemical species present, and comparison with reference values, allows the establishment of real risks posed by contamination to humans, either directly or through the food chain. These studies require a multidisciplinary team such as GEMM; many of the aforementioned publications include this aspect as a final objective.
Analysis of remediation alternatives for environmental problems related to contamination, not only in mining environments. The identification and characterization of environmental risks leads to decisions on whether remediation is necessary and, if so, the most appropriate methodologies, based on achieving the best solution at the lowest possible economic cost. Work is also ongoing in collaboration with different partners, including the development of solutions for specific cases, especially in the field of immobilization/inertization of contaminants.
Geochemical exploration of mineral deposits. The available analytical equipment and the previous experience of some members of this Section allow the design and implementation of geochemical exploration campaigns using both basic and advanced techniques, including mercurimetry.

Working Team

The working team of this Section corresponds to the current Environmental Geochemistry of Heavy Metals Group, with additional external members and support from other groups. UCLM staff members and collaborators are listed separately, including those from other Sections of this Institute with strong links to this one.

Permanent Members

**Permanent Members**
Name / email	Position	Field of Knowledge	Department
Pablo Leon Higueras Higueras pablo.higueras@uclm.es	Full Professor	Mining Exploration and Research	Geological and Mining Engineering
Saturnino Lorenzo Álvarez saturnino.lorenzo@uclm.es	Associate Professor	Mining Exploration and Research	Geological and Mining Engineering
José Ignacio Barquero Peralbo joseignacio.barquero@uclm.es	Assistant Professor (PhD)	Mining Engineering	Geological and Mining Engineering
Francisco Javier Carrasco Milara fcojavier.carrasco@uclm.es	Adjunct Lecturer	Mining Engineering	Geological and Mining Engineering
Francisca Santiago Jiménez francisca.santiago@uclm.es	Associate Professor	Physical Chemistry	Physical Chemistry
María Luisa Morena Pardo mariailuisa.morena@uclm.es	Associate Professor	Analytical Chemistry	Analytical Chemistry and Food Technology
Raquel Jurado Merchán raquel.jurado@uclm.es	Associate Professor	Electrical Engineering	Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Contracted Staff or Fellows

Name / email	Affiliation
Feliciano Mbomio Bacale Mbengono feliciano.bacale@uclm.es	HERMES Project Staff
Oscar André Ávalos Razo oscarandre.avalos@uclm.es	HERMES Project Staff
Alexander Ocampo Hernández alexander.ocampo@uclm.es	Collaborative Transfer Project Staff
Judith Liliana Jaeger Collantes judithliliana.jaeger@alu.uclm.es	San Quintín Project Fellow
Geraldine Mariel Collado Aranguren geraldinemariel.collado@alu.uclm.es	UCLM Talent Retention Fellow

Collaborators

Name / email	Department and University or Institution
José María Esbrí Víctor jesbri@ucm.es	Faculty of Geological Sciences Complutense University of Madrid
Efrén García Ordiales garciaefren@uniovi.es	Mieres Polytechnic School University of Oviedo
Diego Baragaño Coto d.baragano@igme.es	Geological and Mining Institute of Spain
Orlando Vaselli orlando.vaselli@unifi.it	Department of Earth Sciences University of Florence (Italy)
Federica Meloni federica.meloni@unifi.it	Department of Earth Sciences University of Florence (Italy)
Stefano Covelli covelli@units.it	Department of Mathematics, Informatics & Geosciences University of Trieste (Italy)
Ana Cristina González Valoys ana.gonzalez1@utp.ac.pa	Faculty of Civil Engineering Technological University of Panama (Panama)
Samantha Jimenez Oyola sjimenez@espol.edu.ec	Faculty of Earth Sciences Engineering Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (Guayaquil, Ecuador)
Fabienne Battaglia-Brunet f.battaglia@brgm.fr	Geomicrobiology and Environmental Monitoring Unit Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM), France
Pedro Antonio Jiménez Gómez pedro.jimenezgomez@ceu.es	Research Support Service, Microbiology Area San Pablo CEU University Foundation, Madrid
Marina Robas Mora marina.robasmora@ceu.es	Research Support Service, Microbiology Area San Pablo CEU University Foundation, Madrid
Vanesa Fernández Pastrana vanesa.fernandezpastrana@ceu.es	Research Support Service, Microbiology Area San Pablo CEU University Foundation, Madrid