Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

<p>Metals released into the environment as a result of anthropogenic activities such as mining can pose a threat to&nbsp;natural ecosystems and human health. Environment Canada has identified several elements such as copper&nbsp;(Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) as potential contaminants. After&nbsp;release into the environment, biogeochemical processes including precipitation/ dissolution,&nbsp;sorption/desorption and redox transformations can affect the mobility, toxicity and bioavailability of these&nbsp;pollutants. Identifying the sources and understanding the fate of contaminants is important to develop effective&nbsp;containment and remediation strategies.</p> <p>The recent development of multi-collector inductively- coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS)&nbsp;techniques provides the potential to determine the isotope ratios of heavy elements, including contaminants&nbsp;such as Cu, Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn, U and Se. Studies have shown that measurable differences are observed in metal&nbsp;isotope ratios, which can be attributed to the source of the metals and to biogeochemical reactions occurring&nbsp;within the environment. Isotope ratios can be used as a tool for identifying and quantifying sources, allow us to&nbsp;track the fate of contaminants and understand biogeochemical processes of contaminant metals in the&nbsp;environment. Isotope ratios are emerging as an innovative new tool to isolate reaction mechanisms that cannot&nbsp;be determined with conventional techniques.&nbsp;</p> <p>Isotopic analysis requires extensive sample purification. Therefore this proposal is directed toward the purchase&nbsp;of an automated purification system and associated equipment which will improve our ability to explore these&nbsp;novel techniques and further our understanding of the fate of contaminants in the natural environment.</p>