Special Sessions – ICOBTE / ICHMET 2023

Application of Synchrotron-based X-ray Techniques to Study the Chemical Speciation and Dynamics of Metal(loid)s in the Environment

Organizers: Shan-Li Wang (National Taiwan University, Taiwan), Noriko Yamaguchi (National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Japan), Yohey Hashimoto (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan)

Keynote Speakers: Enzo Lombi & Yu Ting Liu & Prof. Worachart Wisawapipat

This Special Sessions addresses the following topics:
- Applications of synchrotron-based techniques in studying temporal and spatial transformations of metal(loid)s in soils and sediments
- Applications of synchrotron-based techniques in studying the microbial processes of metal(loid) dynamics in sediments, soils, and rhizosphere

From Soils to the Table: Understanding the Risk of Cadmium Contamination to Foodstuff

Organizers: Eduardo Chavez, Fangjie Zhao, Erik Smolders

Keynote Speaker: Erik Smolders

The special session will aim to connect the presence and contamination of Cd in food products from the fields to the consumers table, the following topics are proposed:

Identification and mitigation of Cd in agricultural fields (including new monitoring tools)
Bioremediation (including fito) of contaminated sites
Partitioning of Cd in plant tissues: new insights into Cd pathways
Risk evaluation for Cd exposure

Symposium of COST Action CA 19116 “Trace Metal Metabolism in Plants – PLANTMETALS”

Organizers: Prof. Dr. Hendrik Küpper, chair and grantholder scientific representative of CA19116, Dr. Filis Morina, Dr. Elisa Andresen, Drs. Robert Dulfer and Josef Kubin

Keynote speaker: Prof. Ana Assunção & Dr. Antony van der Ent

https://plantmetals.eu/plantmetals-home.html

Aims: The COST Action PLANTMETALS, and thus this special symposium, aims at elucidating the questions described in the “state of the art” the combined expertise of researchers (physiologists, (bio)physicists, (bio)(geo)chemists, molecular geneticists, ecologists, agronomists and soil scientists). It furthermore aims at making this knowledge applicable to the needs of farmers and consumers, with input from companies for translating laboratory results into applied products.

This general direction is represented by the scientific workgroups of PLANTMETALS:

Workgroup 1 - Trace Metal (TM) Transport from soil to plant.
Identifies the pathway of metals from the soil into and within the plant, their genetic underpinning and how these are modified in rare plants with exceptional accumulation of metals.

Workgroup 2 – Metalloproteins
Studies metal-binding proteins. Proteins carry out all biochemical reactions in living organisms. Of all plant proteins, as much as thirty percent require metals as cofactors, which accomplish the diverse biochemical function of these proteins.

Workgroup 3 - Environmental impact on plant metabolism
Studies deficiency, toxicity, and metabolic interactions of TM with beneficial microorganisms and pathogens. Such interactions may, for example, involve changes in the uptake and intra-plant distribution of metals, enhanced or diminished expression or activity of metalloproteins.

Workgroup 4 - Agronomy - how to apply science practically
Studies how to achieve better nutritional quality of food crops with respect to essential metal nutrients and TM toxins in the context of EU regulations. Studies how specific green plants can be used to clean up contaminated soil and water (phytoremediation).

Workgroup 5 - Dissemination
Spreads the results of the Action to the different stakeholders and the general public.

Workgroup 6 - Intellectual property protection
Facilitates the transfer of the scientific results of PLANTMETALS into applications for the benefit of people in the EU and worldwide.

New Approaches in Management and Remediation of Metal contaminated Sediments

Organizers: Anna Sophia Knox (Savannah River National Laboratory, USA), Filip M. G. Tack (Ghent University, Belgium)

Keynote Speaker: Meththika Vithanage

This symposium will facilitate the discussions on current status of trace elements in sediments, their biogeochemical behavior, the processes and factors which govern their mobilization, current views on management and remediation of metal contaminated sediments, and explore the role of bioavailability in risk assessment and regulatory decision making. Although contaminated sediment poses difficult assessment and remediation challenges, recent advancements in methodologies have improved our ability to accurately estimate the risks posed by contaminated sediments and effectively control these risks. Improved in–situ containment and remediation methods can effectively remediate contaminated sediments at reduced costs and minimize environmentally intrusive remedial actions. The following specific topics will be addressed during the symposium:

Fate and transport of trace elements
Biogeochemical processes and factors which govern the mobilization of trace elements
Bioavailability of metals in contaminated sediments and flooded soils
Chemical/toxicological/biological measurements and characterization
Current risk assessment, management and remediation strategies, and new approaches
Remediation effectiveness: defining, monitoring, and demonstrating success.

Fate, Speciation Analysis and Ecotoxicology of Emerging Metallic Contaminants (Technology-Critical Elements: TCEs) in Aquatic Environments: current Knowledge and Future Challenges

Organizers: Carlos Eduardo Monteiro, Melina Abdou, Antonio Cobelo-García, Miguel Caetano, Jörg Schäfer

Keynote Speaker: Dario Omanović

The United Nations plan of action delineated in the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development recognizes the need of protection of both terrestrial and marine environments, including their living and mineral resources. Aligned with this vision, the aim of this symposium is to gather a panel of specialists with expertise on the biogeochemistry of trace elements, particularly of TCEs. We have a special interest on analytical development of methodologies for accurate quantification of those elements in challenging complex matrices, therefore leading to a better understanding of their biogeochemical cycles in aquatic environments, considering the continuum from riverine, estuarine, to coastal and marine systems subjected to anthropogenic pressures. Moreover, improving and developing such procedures will contribute to fulfil major knowledge gaps existing on TCEs chemical interactions, from the perspective of their chemical speciation and their ecotoxicology. Finally, this session intends to take a step further on addressing measures to prevent TCEs potential hazardous impacts in the environment, namely by tackling the urgent necessity of establishing uniformed regulations.

Main topics to be addressed in this special session concerning TCEs are therefore:
- Analytical development and optimization
- Sources, distribution, and fate
- Speciation analysis and reactivity
- Interactions with aquatic organisms: availability, toxicity, and biomonitoring
- Regulation, Environmental Quality Standards (EQS)

Critical Metals in Mine Wastes, Soil and Water

Organizers: Longbin Huang (University of Queensland, Australia), Daniel Alessi (University of Alberta, Canada), Binoy Sarkar (University of South Australia, Australia), Rongliang Qiu (Sun Yat-sen University, China)

Keynote Speaker: Heileen Hsu-Kim

Given the renewed interests in critical minerals and metals, it is appropriate to have this special symposium to invite up-to-date knowledge and discoveries from research communities to summarize our understanding and advance our research on the extraction of critical minerals, and the management and prevention of environmental impacts of critical minerals extraction processes.

Innovative amendments for soil remediation – Perspectives and Drawbacks

Organizers: Michael Komárek (Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic), Diego Baragaño (University of Oviedo, Spain), Ivan Carabante (Luleå University of Technology, Sweden), Juan Antelo (University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain)

Keynote Speaker: -

The use of various amendments, including nanomaterials and composites, for environmental remediation has attracted much attention due to their efficiency and/or low cost. Several field trials have proved that some of these amendments could be a viable remediation option for soils and groundwater contaminated with various pollutants. The use of engineered nanoparticles (nZVI, Fe nanooxides) and various composite materials (e.g., metal-biochar) present, due to their high reactivity, a promising strategy in environmental technology and remediation. However, several questions remain unanswered, i.e., application strategies, long-term efficiency of these amendments in the field, modelling of associated processes, their possible toxicity and interactions with biota, and economical viability. This session aims at tackling these specific issues and proposing new research perspectives in this particular field.

Environmental Geochemistry of Mercury and Treatment Solutions for Mercury-contaminated Environment

Organizers: Xinbin Feng (Chinese Academy of Sciences, China), Jerry Lin (Lamar University, USA), Jianxu Wang (Chinese Academy of Sciences, China), Wei Zhu (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden)

Keynote Speaker: Jerry Lin

This section aims to present the state of the science on the sources, the health effect, the biogeochemical processes, the fate, and the solutions of Hg contamination in the environment. We encourage submissions exploring the Hg behaviour/cycle at various temporal and spatial scales in the environment, the biophysicochemical mechanisms controlling the accumulation, transformation, toxicity and migration of Hg pollution in the environment. We welcome the studies covering: (1) biogeochemical cycle of Hg at contaminated sites and the mitigation strategies; (2) the biogeochemical process controlling Hg methylation and demethylation under aerobic condition; (3) the use of Hg stable isotopes for tracing the sources of Hg in ecosystems; (4) the monitoring of atmospheric Hg after the Minamata convention on mercury, and the evaluation of effectiveness of the implementation of the Minamata convention on mercury.

New Insights into Microbial Diversity Related to Mercury Bioconversion

Organizers: Claudia Cosio (University of Reims Champagne Ardenne, France), Caitlin Gionfriddo (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, USA)

Keynote Speaker: Andrea G. Bravo

This session aims to bring together scientists to discuss the latest results using advanced microbial and analytical chemical techniques to study environmental MMHg production. Symposium talks will focus on research using culture-independent molecular techniques, such as high-throughput meta-omic analyses with chemical analyses to identify microbial structure and functionality as it relates to Hg biogeochemistry. We also welcome talks that utilize experimental design and analytical methods that address critical gaps in our understanding of environmental Hg cycling and constrain the various bio-physico-chemical parameters that influence HgII methylation.

(De)methylation and Biovolatilisation of Trace Elements

Organizers: Marie-Pierre Isaure, Adrien Mestrot, Mathilde Monperrus

Keynote Speaker: Erik Björn

The aim of this symposium is to bring together scientists from different disciplines working on different aspects of the methylation of various trace elements such as mercury, arsenic, antimony, selenium, and others to advance this research field further. The topics addressed will be:

Different environmental compartments where methylation processes occur (air, soil, sediments, water, plants, and organisms)
Hot spots in geochemical cycling including rice paddies, riverine, marine and coastal zones, lakes…
Elucidation of (de-)methylation processes
Analytical advances to detect, identify and quantify molecular forms of trace elements
Molecular tools to understand the formation of methylated trace elements
Drivers of (de)methylation in terrestrial, marine and extreme environments
Impact of climate change on the formation of methylated trace elements
Toxicity of methylated trace elements
Influence of the methylation of trace elements on their global biogeochemical cycle

Recent Advances in Wetland Biogeochemical Processes

Organizers: Daniel I. Kaplan (University of Georgia, USA), Kirk Scheckel (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USA)

Keynote Speaker: John White

This Special Session addresses the following topics:

Advances in understanding Fe-, S-, Mn-, P-, and OM-cycles in wetland biogeochemistry
Advances in understanding trace element and contaminant immobilization and release from wetlands
Advances in understanding the biogeochemistry of wetlands using genomic techniques.
Impact of climate change on contaminant biogeochemistry
Applications of ML/AI in watershed and/or wetland hydro-biogeochemistry

Chronically contaminated Agroecosystems – from Mechanistic Understanding to Global-scale Risk Assessment

Organizers: Matthieu Bravin, Emmanuel Doelsch, Samuel Legros (Cirad, France), Tanja Mimmo (Free University of Bolzano, Italy), Alessandra Monteiro (Animine, France)

Keynote Speakers: Christophe Nguyen & Thiago Fermentini

This special symposium aims to tackle the specific environmental and health challenges faced by chronically contaminated agroecosystems. We welcome contributions that encompass (i) approaches from mechanistic understanding to risk assessment (e.g. Life cycle assessment), (ii) spatial scales from molecular to global, (iii) methodologies from realistically contaminated field trial to modelling on long-term perspectives, and (iv) comparisons of chronic vs. acute exposure and toxicity. Studies on sensitive and cutting-edge tools (e.g. biotests, biomarkers, isotope tracing, spectroscopic speciation) developed on and for chronically contaminated agroecosystems will be considered with a great interest. Studies evaluating the agroecological levers useful to mitigate environmental and health risks (e.g. the replacement of synthetic fertilizers by organic residues, the selection of low-accumulating cultivars, and the manipulation of soil properties by liming and organic amendments) are also welcome.

Geochemical Modelling of Trace Elements

Organizers: Jon Petter Gustafsson, Carin Sjöstedt, Dan Berggren Kleja, Geert Cornelis (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden)

Keynote Speaker: Bert Jan Groenenberg

In this session we welcome contributions that can lead us to bridge the gap between the lab and the field, so that the fate of trace elements can be predicted more accurately from our knowledge on geochemical processes.

Green Sample Preparation for Determination of Heavy Metals in the Environment

Organizers: José A. López-López (University of Cádiz, Spain), Carolina Mendiguchía (University of Cádiz, Spain)

Keynote Speaker: Franz Jirsa

Having a common forum focused on the preparation of samples for metals determination in the environment will offer a great opportunity to share experiences between experts working in the latest approaches and techniques on the topic. Furthermore, it will be of interest for other environmentalist, toxicologist, oceanographers, and other scientists, whose research is not focused on methodological aspects, but need tools for the measurement of metals in their studies.

Outline:

Micro-extraction of metals from environmental samples
Liquid phase micro-extraction alternatives for detection and speciation of metals
Nano-based materials for sample preparation in the determination of metals in the environment.
New supports for chemical separation of metallic species from environmental samples.
Passive sampling of metals for on-site sample preparation.
Green reagents for metal extractions.
Solvent-less microextraction techniques for metal analysis.

Functionalized Biochar to Regulate the Biogeochemical Processes of Heavy Metals

Organizers: Hailong Wang (Foshan University, China), Nanthi Bolan (University of Western Australia), Deyi Hou (Tsinghua University, China), Xing Yang (Hainan University, China), Xiangzhou Yuan (Korea University, South Korea)

Keynote Speaker: Yong-Sik Ok

The aims of the symposium are to achieve a paradigm shift towards the sustainable development of functionalized biochar on the remediation of soil, water, and air, and to to enhance our understanding on underlying biogeochemical processes of heavy metals affected by functionalized biochar, so that a smart design and application of functionalized biochar will be achieved. To achieve these goals, several topics are to be addressed, which include (but not limited to):

Novel fabrication methods of functionalized biochars to remediate heavy metal contaminated soil, water, and air.
Biogeochemical processes of heavy metals as affected by functionalized biochar amendment.
Solute and colloidal transport processes and mechanisms of heavy metals following functionalized biochar application.
Green remediation of heavy metal contaminated environmental media with lowest disturbance to the ecosystem using functionalized biochar.
Long-term heavy metal (im)mobilization mechanisms of functionalized biochars under dynamic environmental conditions.
Ecotoxicity of certain types of functionalized biochars, such as nanobiochar.

Antimony: Interconnections between Natural and Anthropogenic Cycles in a Changing Planet

Organizers: Montserrat Filella (University of Geneva, Switzerland), Mengchang He (Beijing Normal University, China), Gudny Okkenhaug (Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Norway), Susan Wilson (University of New England, Australia), Juraj Majzlan (University of Jena, Germany)

Keynote Speakers: Chuanyong Jing & Ed Burton

The symposium will include “classical” topics integrated with emerging concerns. The aim is consolidation of knowledge for “classical” topics but to prioritise the perspective of new challenges - ecosystem changes linked to global climate challenges (e.g., floods, droughts, fires), new sources such as recycled plastics. Topics will include:
- sources and emissions to the environment;
- monitoring and identification of Sb in the environment, including new
techniques,
- biogeochemistry Sb in the environment – macro to micro processes,
- impacts of Sb contamination on health, ecosystem services and
environmental quality,
- risk assessment and regulatory management of Sb in the environment,
- Sb pollution prevention, remediation and rehabilitation,
- application of big data methods to environmental and (eco)toxicological data.

Within these topics particular attention will be given to:
- environment effects of mining and production of antimony compounds,
- Sb in plastics and WEEE,
- recovery, recycling and circular economy,
- influence of a changing climate,
- Sb nanomaterials.

Sustainable Recycling of Critical Metallic Materials

Organizers: Adam Slabon (University of Wuppertal, Germany), Bruno Manzolli (University of Wuppertal, Germany)

Keynote Speaker: Aji Mathew

The symposium aims to address the abovementioned challenges and welcomes scientific contributions that are aligned to one (or more) of the following topics: i) Sustainable chemical methods for recycling and recovery of (heavy) metals; ii) Identification of potential hazards for the environment originating from heavy metal processing and their prevention; iii) Critical assessment of current recycling processes; iv) Life-cycle analysis of critical metallic materials. This encompasses chemical methods using green chemistry metrics, renewable materials for zero-waste recycling technologies, identification and analysis of materials loss in the form of heavy metal ions or nanoparticles to the environment, and resulting human-related toxicologic aspects.

Total Organofluorine in Biogeochemistry (incl. PFAS)

Organizers: Jörg Feldmann (University of Graz, Austria), Leo Yeung (Örebro University, Sweden)

Keynote Speaker: Leo Yeung & Björn Meermann

Non-natural per and polyfluorinated alkylated compounds (PFAS) are found in every environment. More than 4700 compounds are known, but only a handful compounds are restricted and monitored by targeted analysis using LC-MS/MS. Mass balance approaches for extractable organofluorines (EOF) have shown that in sewage, food contact material, wildlife samples only traces of PFAS could be identified and quantified. Currently there are a few analytical methods available for total fluorine and for fluorine speciation. However, all have some disadvantages. The symposium will address the state-of-the-art analytical methods using in biogeochemistry of total fluorine and its speciation. Bringing together researcher, who are interested in mass balance approaches of fluorine in the biogeochemistry using trace element approaches and target and non-targeted analysis of PFAS.

Metal stable isotope for tracing bio-geochemical cycle of trace elements

Organizers: Prof. Dr. Juan Liu (Guangzhou University, China), Prof. Dr. Chengshuai Liu (Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China), Prof. Dr. Ping Li (Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China), Prof. Dr. Hong Chen (Southern University of Science and Technology, China), Prof. Dr. Jing Sun (Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China), Dr. Nick Belshaw (University of Oxford, United Kingdom)

Keynote Speaker: Chengshuai Liu

With continuing innovation of stable isotope theory and great improvement of various technologies of isotopic mass spectrometry (especially the advent of Multiple Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (MC-IPC-MS)), the development and utilization of non-traditional stable isotope system have been booming in recent years. Current metal isotope studies have been conducted, including elements such as Li, Mg, Fe, Ti, V, Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Mo, Hg, Se, Sn and Tl. Recent studies have found that non-traditional stable isotopes can effectively make up for the deficiency of traditional research on environmental bio-geochemistry of heavy metal(loid)s, and open up a new way for tracing source-sink process of metal(loid)s pollution and their bio-geochemical behaviors. This session "Metal stable isotope for tracing bio-geochemical cycle of trace elements" aims to gather international scientists in this field to show their latest research progress, promote academic exchanges and cooperation, effectively promote international research in this frontier field.