1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
150 South Academic Building (SAB), South Academic Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
Event details: A graduate exam seminar is a presentation of the student’s final research project for their degree.
This is an ALES PhD Final Exam Seminar by Sundas Butt. This seminar is open to the general public to attend.
PhD with Dr. William Shotyk.
Zoom Link: https://ualberta-ca.zoom.us/j/91879232522?pwd%3DOBvKB17tANEQA3a6xPDWUUr43og7zp.1
Meeting ID: 918 7923 2522
Passcode: 809038
Thesis Topic: Trace elements in peat bog waters: distinguishing natural from anthropogenic atmospheric inputs, and their potential bioavailability.
Abstract:
Waters from ombrotrophic peat bogs are ideal for the dissolution of chemically reactive mineral phases due to the low pH (< 4) and abundance of organic acids. In this study, the use of waters from living Sphagnum moss layers and peat porewaters was explored to evaluate the reactivity of dust and the potential bioavailability of trace elements (TEs) in bog ecosystems experiencing substantial dust deposition such as the Athabasca Bituminous Sands region. Dissolved TEs (<0.45 µm) in both types of water increased toward industry providing evidence of dust dissolution. These findings highlight the potential of using both moss and peat porewaters to monitor the reactivity of atmospheric dust inputs. Furthermore, size resolved analysis, using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation coupled with ICP-MS (AF4-ICPMS), revealed that most TEs in peat bog waters were associated with colloids. These findings suggest lower bioavailability than estimated based on the conventionally defined dissolved concentrations.
Categories: