Remediation and Sustainable Land Uses

Researchers

Capabilities

SOIL ASSESSMENT

• Analysis of physical, chemical, mineralogical, and biological parameters. Soil fertility assessment.
• Soil quality indicators, environmental functions and ecosystem services. Assessment of soil capacity for different uses (suitability, limitations, and sensitivity).
• Soil mapping. Geographic Information Systems and Digital Maps.

CARBON SEQUESTRATION

• Characterization of soil organic matter and assessment of current carbon stocks and potential increases.
• Study of soil organic carbon stability through organo-mineral interactions.
• Design of carbon sequestration projects and remediaion of soil productive functions through remineralization and incentivized mineral alteration.
• Biochar-based materials: analysis and applications in soils.

DEGRADATION AND CONTAMINATION

• Study of soils of mines, urban, industrial, agricultural, and others heavily affected by human activity
• Studies of the dynamic of contaminant in soil: heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, pesticides, plastics.
• Prediction of acid mine drainage generation, potential net acidity.
• Interaction of contaminants with soil components: organo-mineral interactions, adsorption processes, leaching risks, speciation.
• Soil-plant interactions: tolerance, bioavailability, bioaccumulation/translocation, rhizosphere effect.
• Environmental impact assessment

ENVIRONMENTAL REHABILITATION

Rehabilitation of degraded or contaminated soils, waters, and ecosystems

• Restoration projects for mining areas: waste dumps, open pits, and mine voids. Long-term monitoring and development plan.
• Restoration projects for mining areas: waste dumps, open pits, and mine voids. Long-term monitoring and development plan.
• Design of Technosols ad hoc for the rehabilitation of soils, waters, and ecosystems degraded or contaminated by mining activities, civil works, and recurrent fires.
• Application of biomaterials and natural and synthetic nanominerals for the retention of organic (pesticides, dyes, PFAS, etc.) and inorganic (As, Cu, Cr, Pb, Zn, Cd, etc.) contaminants.
• Soil decontamination strategies based on biological processes: phytoextraction, phytostabilization, and bioremediation.

PHYTOSUDOE Project (www.phytosudoe.eu/) for the application and demonstration of innovative phytomanagement strategies in contaminated areas of the SUDOE area.

TEKURA Project (www.cretus.usc.es/9075/proyecto-tekura/) for the recovery of soil, water and ecosystems from a uranium mine.