Chemistry professors receive US Department of Energy grant

The United States Department of Energy awarded chemistry professors Andres Campiglia and Eloy Hernandez with a grant of over $500,000 for a three year period.

The grant proposal targets a critical element of the Environmental Remediation Science Program research portfolio, which is the development of enabling scientific tools for characterizing the spatial and temporal evolution of complex subsurface systems.

The professors propose a field-portable, on-site sensing device for real-time speciation of elemental and inorganic mercury in surface stream waters, groundwater and sediment samples. The tool will allow scientists from the Department of Energy (DOE) to accurately monitor ultra-low concentration levels of Hg(0), Hg(I) and Hg(II) and make it possible to incorporate coupled physical, chemical and biological processes into decision making for environmental remediation and long term stewardship.