- B503 Portland Square, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 584577
- charlotte.braungardt@plymouth.ac.uk
Profiles
Dr Charlotte Braungardt
Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Environmental Science
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
I am Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Environmental Science and Assistant Head of School for Environmental Science within the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (SoGEES). My main roles in learning and teaching are in BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and MSc Environmental Consultancy.
I am a member of the Biogeochemistry Research Centre (BGC: http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/research/bgc/Pages/default.aspx ), it's sub-group Biogeochemistry and Environmental Analytical Chemistry (BEACh: http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/beach ) and the Environmental Science Research Group. My research activities centre around the geochemistry of mine waste and its impact on the aquatic and terrestrial environments and mitigation.
Qualifications
In my previous career, I graduated as a Dipl.-Ing. Electrical Engineering/Communication Electronics in 1989 and worked as a project engineer in industrial process controll systems for the engineering consultancy Metallurgische Gesellschaft/LURGI in Germany until 1993.
I obtained a BSc Environmental Science at the University of Plymouth in 1996 and continued my scientific training with a Ph.D. in marine geochemistry (Metal biogeochemistry of a mine contaminated estuarine-coastal system in SW Spain) at the same University in 2000. Two EU-funded post-doctoral research fellowships followed between 2000 and 2003, on the projects MEMOSEA (UV digestion of metal complexing natural organic matter and humic substances) and IMTEC (In situ automated monitoring of trace metal speciation in estuaries and coastal zones).
Between 2001 and 2006, I took on various part-time lecturing roles in environmental science and marine science and obtained the LTHE (Learning and Teaching in Higher Education) qualification. My permanent position as lecturer at the University of Plymouth commenced in 2006.
Professional membership
MI - Marine Institute
ERF - Estuarine Research Federation
IMWA - International Mine Water Association
SETAC - Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
MBA - Marine Biological Association
ILM - Institute of Leadership and Management
Roles on external bodies
International Mine Water Association: Member of the scientific comittee.
Associate Editor for the journal 'Mine Water and the Environment'
Teaching interests
My teaching activities centre around our BSc Environmental Science programme and the MSc Environmental Consultancy course. As a lecturer, my focus is on catchment science, geochemistry, water resources, scientific method and skills development; the latter including practical scientific investigations, providing opportunities for work experience, as well as introducing advanced IT skills, such as GIS, to the programme.
The development of life skill alongside academic credentials is key to the personal and professional development of our graduates. In this context I am working on embedding into the curriculum opportunities for our students to obtain and practice their communication, leadership and management skills and become resilient individuals and confident professionals. I am member of the University Mental Health Taskforce.
Research interests
My research interests lie in the geochemistry and biogeochemistry of catchment systems, from headwaters to estuaries and into the coastal zone. Current research projects investigate point and diffuse sources of elements associated with metal mining activities and the impact of contamination on aquatic and terrestrial environments, the assessment of risk for humans from uptake of metals and metalloids into the food chain and mitigation and remediation measures. For this work, collaboration with external partners include local organisations (e.g. Tamar Valley Service), as well as the Environment Agency, Camborne School of Mines, the British Geological Survey, the International Zinc Association and the European Copper Institute. My recent sabbatical at the University of Montpellier II has complemented my research interests in the area of remediation of metal mining legacies.
Other research
Recent conference presentations
Research degrees awarded to supervised students
Holly Pearson: Copper and Zinc Speciation and Bioavailability in the Tamar Estuary. PhD, July 2016. Funded by University of Plymouth, the European Copper Institute and International Zinc Association.
Thomas C Robson: Weathering of Sulfide Ores in Model Soils, Potentially Toxic Element release and Bioavailabilty. PhD, September 2011. Funded by the University of Plymouth.
Krongkaew Mighanetara: Impact of Metal Mining on the Water Quality in the Tamar Catchment. PhD, December 2008. With Dr. John Rieuwerts and Dr. Fethi Azizi. Funded by the Royal Thai Government and the School of Engineering and Technology at Plymouth University.
Cathryn Money: Trace Metal Chemical Speciation and Acute Toxicity to Pacific Oyster Larvae. PhD, December 2007. With Prof. Paul Worsfold and Prof. Eric Achterberg (National Oceanography Centre, Southampton). NERC Case studentship.
Grants & contracts
Current funding
2014-2019
Restoring lowland heathland after mineral extraction: patterns and processes (with Drs Jon Ellis (PI), Paul Lunt, Mick Hanley and Mary Knight). Supported by Sibelco.
2014-2018
Restoring lowland heathland after mineral extraction: patterns and processes (with Drs Jon Ellis (PI), Paul Lunt, Mick Hanley and Mary Knight). Supported by Sibelco.
2014-2018
Heavy metal biogeochemistry and removal by microbial biotechnologies (with Dr Rich Boden (PI)). Funded by the government of Iraq
Past funding
2012-2015
Trace metal fate and behaviour in a metal impacted estuary (with Dr. Sean Comber (PI), Prof. Paul Worsfold). Supported by NERC funds and the International Zinc Association and European Copper Institute.
2010-2013
Geochemical transformation of toxic metal-rich mining waste in agricultural soils: implications for crops (with Dr. Miranda Keith-Roach, Prof. Paul Worsfold, Dr. John Rieuwerts).
2009-2010
Geoprocessing of contaminant transport in catchments affected by abandoned metal mines, KTP collaboration with the British Geological Survey, funded by the Environment Agency and HEIF3.
2007-2010
Sustainable management of minewater pollution from headwaters to estuaries (with Prof. Paul Worsfold and Drs John Rieuwerts, Benedict Williamson (Camborne School of Mines) and Hugh Potter (Environment Agency)), GWR Studentship co-funded by the EA.
2005-2008
The legacy of metal mining in the Tamar Valley: Impact on environmental quality and solutions (with Drs John Rieuwerts, Fethi Azizi and John Summerscale). Scholarship from the Royal Thai Government.
2004-2008
Novel integration of trace element speciation measurements and marine bioassays (with Profs. Eric Achterberg (NOC), Awadhesh Jha, Paul Worsfold). Nerc Case Studentship.
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Articles
2019 'Chronosequence of former kaolinite open cast mines suggests active intervention is required for the restoration of Atlantic heathland' Restoration Ecology , DOI Open access
2019 'In-situ trace metal (Cd, Pb, Cu) speciation along the Po River plume (Northern Adriatic Sea) using submersible systems' Marine Chemistry , DOI Open access
2018 'Determination and Prediction of Zinc Speciation in Estuaries' Environmental Science and Technology 52, (24) 14245-14255 , DOI Open access
2018 'Hydraulic retention time affects bacterial community structure in an As-rich acid mine drainage (AMD) biotreatment process' Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology , DOI Open access
2018 'Mixtures of tritiated water, zinc and dissolved organic carbon: Assessing interactive bioaccumulation and genotoxic effects in marine mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis' Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 187, 133-143 , DOI Open access
2017 'Biological attenuation of arsenic and iron in a continuous flow bioreactor treating acid mine drainage (AMD)' Water Research , DOI Open access
2017 'Predicting copper speciation in estuarine waters – Is dissolved organic carbon a good proxy for the presence of organic ligands?' Environmental Science & Technology , DOI Open access
2016 'Absence of Gradients and Nernstian Equilibrium Stripping (AGNES) for the determination of [Zn2+] in estuarine waters' ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA 912, 32-40 , DOI Open access
2015 'Evaluation of Analytical Instrumentation. Part XXVI: Instrumentation for Voltammetry' ANALYTICAL METHODS 7, (4) 1249-1260 , DOI Open access
2014 'Geochemistry and mineralogy of arsenic in mine wastes and stream sediments in a historic metal mining area in the UK' Sci Total Environ 472, 226-234 , DOI
2013 'Cadmium contamination of agricultural soils and crops resulting from sphalerite weathering' Environ Pollut 184, 283-289 , DOI Open access
2013 'Biomonitoring of thallium availability in two estuaries of southwest England' Mar Pollut Bull 69, (1-2) 172-177 , DOI
2013 'Impact of arsenopyrite contamination on agricultural soils and crops' Journal of Geochemical Exploration 125, 102-109 , DOI
2012 'Fractionation of thallium in the tamar estuary, south west England' Journal of Geochemical Exploration , DOI
2011 'Metal speciation and toxicity of Tamar Estuary water to larvae of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas' Mar Environ Res 72, (1-2) 3-12 , DOI
2011 'Temporal variability in dynamic and colloidal metal fractions determined by high resolution in situ measurements in a UK estuary' Chemosphere 84, (4) 423-431 , DOI
2009 'Analysis of dissolved metal fractions in coastal waters: An inter-comparison of five voltammetric in situ profiling (VIP) systems' MARINE CHEMISTRY 114, (1-2) 47-55 , DOI
2009 'Contaminant fluxes from point and diffuse sources from abandoned mines in the River Tamar catchment, UK' JOURNAL OF GEOCHEMICAL EXPLORATION 100, (2-3) 116-124 , DOI
2007 'The chemical speciation of dissolved Cu, Ni and Co in a contaminated estuary in southwest Spain and its influence on plankton communities' Environmental Science and Technology 41 (12), 4214-4220 , DOI
2007 'Chemical speciation of dissolved Cu, Ni, and Co in a contaminated estuary in southwest Spain and its influence on plankton communities' Environmental Science & Technology 41, (12) 4214-4220
2007 'Comparison of high spatial resolution trace metal distributions with model simulations for surface waters of the Gulf of Cadiz' Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 74, (4) 599-609
2003 'Determination of dissolved organic nitrogen in natural waters using high-temperature catalytic oxidation' Trac-Trends in Analytical Chemistry 22, (11) 819-827
2003 'Metal behaviour in an estuary polluted by acid mine drainage: the role of particulate matter' Environmental Pollution 121, (2) 283-292
2003 'Metal geochemistry in a mine-polluted estuarine system in Spain' Applied Geochemistry 18, (11) 1757-1771
2003 'The determination of trace metals in estuarine and coastal waters using a voltammetric in situ profiling system' Analyst 128, (6) 734-741
2003 'Voltammetric in situ measurements of trace metals in coastal waters' Trac-Trends in Analytical Chemistry 22, (11) 828-835
2001 'Metal biogeochemistry in the Tinto-Odiel rivers (Southern Spain) and in the Gulf of Cadiz: a synthesis of the results of TOROS project' Continental Shelf Research 21, (18-19) 1961-1973
2001 'UV digestion of seawater samples prior to the determination of copper using flow injection with chemiluminescence detection' Analytica Chimica Acta 440, (1) 27-36
2001 'UV digestion of seawater samples prior to the determination of copper using flow injection with chemiluminescence detection' Analytica Chimica Acta 440, (1) 27-36 , DOI
2000 'Influence of sorption processes by iron oxides and algae fixation on arsenic and phosphate cycle in an acidic estuary (Tinto river, Spain)' WATER RESEARCH 34, (12) 3222-3230 , DOI
1999 'Trace metal and nutrient distribution in an extremely low pH(2.5) river-estuarine system, the Ria of Huelva (South-West Spain)' SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 227, (1) 73-83 , DOI
1999 'Impact of Los Frailes mine spill on riverine, estuarine and coastal waters in southern Spain' Water Research 33, (16) 3387-3394 , DOI
1999 'Stripping voltammetry for the determination of trace metal speciation and in-situ measurements of trace metal distributions in marine waters' Analytica Chimica Acta 400, (SI) 381-397 , DOI
1998 'On-line voltammetric monitoring of dissolved Cu and Ni in the Gulf of Cadiz, south-west Spain' ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA 377, (2-3) 205-215 , DOI
1998 'On-line voltammetric monitoring of dissolved Cu and Ni in the Gulf of Cádiz, south-west Spain' Analytica Chimica Acta 377, (2-3) 205-215
Chapters
2009 'Dynamic Up-Flow Percolation Tests - A Model for Mining Waste Leachate Generation' Pretoria, South Africa Water Institute of Southern Africa & International Mine Water Association 858-867
2002 'Field application of an automated voltammetric system for high-resolution studies of trace metals distributions in dynamic estuarine and coastal waters' in Rozan TF; Taillefert M Environmental Electrochemistry Analyses of Trace Element Biogeochemistry American Chemical Society 73-102
Conference Papers
2016 'Iron and arsenic removal rates in a continuous flow reactor treating As-rich acid mine drainage (AMD)' 874-880
2012 'Best left to leach? Geochemical understanding of waste tips at abandoned metal mines' 343-350
2011 'Risk-based prioritisation of closed mine waste facilities using GIS. International Mine Water Association' International Mine Water Conference Aachen, Germany 9-/-0/20119-/-0/2011667-672
2011 'Risk-Based Prioritisation of Closed Mine Waste Facilities Using GIS' 667-672
'On-site mine water analysis: application note for the PDV6000plus' in Wolkersdorfer C; Freund A International Mine Water Association Symposium - Mine Water and Innovative Thinking Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada 9-/-0/20109-/-0/2010Syndey, Canada CBU Press 331-335
'Dynamic Up-Flow Percolation Tests - A Model for Mining Waste Leachate Generation' International Mine Water Conference Pretoria, South Africa 0-/-1/20090-/-1/2009Pretoria, South Africa Water Institute of Southern Africa & International Mine Water Association 858-867