RESEARCH
My research interests focus on the following subjects related to environmental sciences: metallurgical slags, sandstones, metal-bearing rocks, microbial-mineral interactions, bio-weathering processes, metal mobility in the environment, the use of mineral wastes in chemical and biological technologies for metal recovery.
The research subject undertaken in the frame of my scientific activity remains at the forefront of many disciplines: geochemistry, mineralogy, soil science and microbiology. I mainly address the problem of environmental contamination by metallic pollutants at sites impacted by industrial activity. Of my particular interest is the geochemical stability of metal-laden industrial wastes disposed of long ago without the appropriate environmental oversight. The presence of such contaminated sites, with a lack of proper impermeable barriers designed to prevent metal migration, may require remediation actions be taken in order to avoid further contamination. Towards these ends, I perform laboratory simulations demonstrating interactions of industrial wastes with soil and vegetation cover. I evaluate the impact(s) of soil microbial organisms (originating from contaminated soils and uncontaminated soils,) root exudates, soil organic matter on bioweathering of minerals and their synthetic
equivalents (i.e. slags’ components.)
I execute various toxicity tests (mainly with plants) and I am strongly engaged in the topic of phytoremediation: the search for efficient plants as well as suitable conditions for the ”rehabilitation” of polluted soils in the vicinity of former industrial centers. Overall, my research interest in bioremediation refers to: metallic pollution, soil microbial organisms, root exudates, bioremediation techniques (including phytoremediation,) and soil properties that are directly related to weathering processes. Furthermore, my current scientific interest is also centered around recovery strategies for rare and critical elements from various waste residues (slags, ashes, mattes, bateries) .
I am experienced in executing a variety of analytical techniques including mineral characterization methods such as: electron microprobe analyzes (EMPA,) scanning electron microscopy (SEM,) x-ray powder diffraction (XRD,) and analytical chemistry methods such as: inductively coupled plasma atomic mass spectrometry (ICP-MS,) atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS,) 3-Dimensional Fluorescence, ion chromatography (IC) as well as computer techniques: JMicroVision, Visual MINTEQ, X-pert High Score Plus .
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
2019-2022 I SONATA project 2018/31/D/ST10/00738
The project funded by National Science Centre "Factors affecting stability of slags: single-phase and multi-phase experimental approach"
2016-2019 I FUGA project 2016/20/S/ST10/00545
The project funded by by National Science Centre "Bioweathering of metallurgical slags originating from copper processing"
RESEARCHER CO-INVESTIGATOR
2021-now I OPUS project 2019/35/B/ST10/00129
The project funded by National Science Centre "Factors affecting abiotic and biotic erosion of lead pellets in the environment"
2022-now I SONATA project 2020/39/D/ST10/00861
The project funded by by National Science Centre "Q-MESA | Mechanisms of Evolution of Sandstone Areas, Central and Western Europe"
2022 I BRIdge Alfa project 2022
The project funded by by National Centre for Research and Development - project proof of concept
PROJECTS SUPPORTING MOBILITY ABROAD
2019 I Project ES1407-42719
The project funded by COST action ES1407 European Network for innovative Recovery strategies of rare earth and other Critical metals from electrical and electronic waste "Critical and rare earth elements recovery form industrial wastes implications for large research proposal development"
2018 I Project 927219D
The project funded by French Government and French Embassy in Poland "Does microbial metabolite trigger the release of metals from metallurgical waste in soil environment"
2017 I FNP - mobility grant in the frame of START program funded by Foundation for Polish Science
SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
2021-2024 I Project 2021/41/N/ST10/02212
The project funded by National Science Centre "(Bio)weathering of wastes originating from mining of zinc and lead" awarded to Maciej Swęd
My international collaboration includes joint works with: Institute for Ecopreneurship (Switzerland), Institute Physique du Globe de Paris (France), University of Limoges (France), CINDEFI - Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales (Argentina), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (India), University of Pisa (Italy). I would also like to emphasize that cooperation with institutions in Poland is also highly relevant for me. Among the most important institutions, I would like to distinguish the following: Warsaw University of Life Sciences, AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków, Pedagogical University in Kraków, University of A. Mickiewicz in Poznań, the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, and the University of Life Sciences in Wrocław.
