Details of Award

NERC Reference : NE/C000765/1

Can kinetic signatures characterize metal binding ligands in natural waters?

Principal Investigator:: Professor W Davison, Lancaster University, Environmental Science
Co-Investigator:: Professor H Zhang, Lancaster University, Lancaster Environment Centre
Grant held at:: Lancaster University, Environmental Science

ENRIs:: Pollution and Waste; Natural Resource Management; Global Change
Science Topics:: Water Quality; Pollution; Ecotoxicology; Biogeochemical Cycles

Abstract:: Many metals present in natural waters are essential to life. If their concentrations are very low, they can control the growth of some organisms, including algae. Metals exist in natural waters in different chemical forms. The complexes of metals with natural binding agents (strong ligands) can markedly lower the concentration of the form available to biota. In freshwaters these strong ligands may be released from algae (exudates) or they may represent some of the binding sites on complexes released from soil, known as humic substances. Methods that just consider binding strength can not distinguish between these sources of ligands. A new technique, called DGT, can be deployed directly in the water to measure simultaneously the rates of release of several metals from their complexes with the ligands. We will investigate whether the distribution of rates of release for the different metals, known as a kinetic signature, can be used to distinguish between these two types of ligands.

Authorised funds only

This grant award has a total value of £30,678

Total - T&S	Total - Staff	Total - Other Costs	Total - Indirect Costs
£1,476	£16,947	£4,460	£7,796

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