Geochemistry of the surface environment

Areas: Geology

The research group on the geochemistry of the surface environment mostly study low-temperature systems, and focuses its attention on the "critical zone" that is the portion of the planet at the interface between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, which is the pedosphere, which means soils. Interest in active processes, quality status, the component source, interactions between different environmental matrices and management issues are important points of the research lines.
The group uses several types of instrumentations, either in Bologna and in Ravenna including XRF, IC, FAAS, GFAAS, CHN, ICP-OES, (ICP-MS), UV-VIS, accumulation chamber for the measurement of CO2 and CH4 emitted from soil, automatic titrator, microwave, as well as laboratories for sample preparation and storage. Skills are represented by the possibility of application of selective and sequential extraction using standardized protocols. The different activities are carried out under national and international projects, and research agreements and with strong collaboration with colleagues and experts from other research fields and a marked interdisciplinary perspective.

Lines of research:

Settori ERC

  • PE10_11 Geochemistry, crystal chemistry, isotope geochemistry, thermodynamics
  • PE10_9 Biogeochemistry, biogeochemical cycles, environmental chemistry
  • PE10_12 Sedimentology, soil science, palaeontology, earth evolution
  • PE10_17 Hydrology, water and soil pollution

Contact 

Enrico Dinelli (PO)


Group members

Nicholas John Geoffrey Pearce (PO)

Alessandro Buscaroli (RU)

Denis Zannoni (Honorary Professor)