The Environmental Chemistry Group specialises in the analysis of trace elements and contaminants across environmental systems. Using advanced elemental and isotopic techniques, the group supports research into pollution pathways, environmental health, and geochemical processes. Their work underpins applications in environmental monitoring, land remediation, and regulatory science.
Research Focus
Main research interests include using stable and radioactive carbon (13C and 14C) isotopes to study carbon cycling in the environment, using other organic, inorganic and radioactive species as tracers of biogeochemical processes, contamination and remediation of the natural environment by persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals.
Long-term stability of Carbon pools – C inventory of golf courses, Blue Carbon habitats
Healthy, sustainable soils – effect on farmland soil of enhanced rock weathering
Impact of management practices – C Sequestration in soil with differing grazing management practices
Techniques
High resolution Gamma Spectrometry
including 210Pb, 137Cs, 241Am, 40K
Alpha Spectrometry
Uranium: 234,235,238, Thorium: 230,232
Sediment Dating
accumulation rates for applied research and geotechnical applications
Soil Carbon and Total Organic Matter
Loss-on-Ignition and temperature-stepped combustion
Extraction and analysis of inorganic elements
including potentially toxic metals and organic contaminants
Dr Gillian Mackinnon
Lecturer in Biogeochemical Tracers
