BOF TT Soil contamination and sanitation Ghent University
A tenure track appointment grants one the privilege of focusing primarily on research for a period of 5 years, with a limited teaching load.
A tenure track appointment grants one the privilege of focusing primarily on research for a period of 5 years, with a limited teaching load.
Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) are essential micronutrients widely added to animal feed to promote growth and eliminate diseases. However, a significant part of Cu/Zn is excreted and transported to the soil with manure applications, causing Cu and Zn accumulation in soils. Phytoextraction was proposed to be considered as a potential technology to produce Cu/Zn-biofortified alfalfa from Cu/Zn-enriched soils as an alternative for Cu/Zn ...
The potential of a phytoattenuation strategy with industrial hemp is evaluated, combining the valorization of contaminated land through hemp cultivation and the development of a biobased value chain for the textile industry. This research aims to analyze metal uptake in the above-ground biomass and evaluates the potential to produce safe and qualitative hemp fibers for textile production.
Through different experiments, contaminated soil will be fractionated into aggregates of different particle size to explore the influence of amendments and rhizosphere processes on the migration and transformation of trace elements, and to reveal the activation/immobilization mechanisms of trace elements under the participation of plants, so as to provide theoretical scientific basis for the stability of trace elements under ...
Erik Smolders is environmental chemist with expertise in soil science and environmental toxicology. He is full professor at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. His research focuses on bioavailability of contaminants and plant nutrients in soils and water. This research is extended to environmental risk assessment and soil fertility evaluation.