CMLR - Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation

Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation

Bioavailability of Toxic Elements in Mine Spoils and Contaminated Soils

Metals and metalloids occur in mine spoils and contaminated soils in a number of forms, of which only the species present in soil solution are available for direct plant uptake. These species may be toxic at excessive concentrations to vegetation employed in rehabilitation.

The overall objective of this project is to develop accurate methods for the assessment of bioavailability/phytotoxicity of elements such as Cu, Cd and Zn etc.
Preliminary evaluation of the coupled liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) technique has indicated that this approach has considerable promise in the qualitative aspect of the study of elemental speciation and bioiavailability in soil solutions.

For further information contact:
Zhi Ling Zeng
z.zeng@uq.edu.au
Tel: (07) 3365 7429

© 2009 The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
ABN 63 942 912 684, CRICOS Provider No:00025B
Authorised by: CMLR
Maintained by: A. Pudmenzky
Last Updated: 19 June 2009