01.07.2016: Nowadays, thousands of soils and groundwaters across Europe are polluted with toxic metals and organic solvents. Access to clean water, however, is of highly crucial importance to the quality of life and economic stability for the ever-increasing European population. This is where MetalAid (Metal Oxide Aided Subsurface Remediation: from Invention to Injection) starts. In the framework of this Marie-Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (ITN) 14 early stage researchers (ESR) will be trained in research related to the testing, validation and development of new technologies and innovative ways to decontaminate soils and groundwaters. The network is funded in the frame of the EU-programme Horizon 2020.

Two of these early stage researchers will be based at the GFZ in section Interface Geochemistry. They will focus on experimentally determining the kinetics and the thermodynamic properties of redox-active materials as well as assessing their stability and effectiveness. These redox active materials are capable of reducing toxic metals and are therefore able to render them harmless.

MetalAid aims at the development of such new materials, as for instance layered double hydroxide (LDH) and redox active green rust (GR). Furthermore, the MetalAid early stage researchers will assess the effectiveness and stability of these materials in experimental and natural analogue settings.

MetalAid is made up of a consortium of international experts in natural geomaterials, geochemistry, contaminant reactivity, groundwater treatment and environment policy, coming from five European countries. The ITN is coordinated by the University of Copenhagen.

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