BrainMap

Mr. AUREL PUI

Professor

- UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI

Researcher | Teaching staff | Scientific reviewer | Manager | PhD supervisor

Curriculum Vitae (12/07/2023)

Expertise & keywords

Impact of heavy metal accumulation on the environment and productivity of forestry ecosystems: Non-conventional remediation technologies of contaminated forests Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-1149 2014 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA "PETRU PONI"

Project partners: INSTITUTUL DE CHIMIE MACROMOLECULARA "PETRU PONI" (RO); UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI (RO); UNIVERSITATEA "ŞTEFAN CEL MARE" DIN SUCEAVA (RO); CODRINTEX SRL (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI (RO)

Project website: http://www.icmpp.ro/meta/metafore/

Abstract:

The goal of this project is to determine feasibility and efficacy of some remediation methods for polluted forest soils in Tarnita (Crucea) area, based on polymers with high affinity toward heavy metals. Risk assessments at Tarnita site reveal that metal contamination is the greatest risk to human and forest health. The mining activity led to the contamination of surface and underground waters, being one of the most important ecological disasters in Romania with a major and continuous impact on the local community. The tailing ponds constitute also major factors of pollution of the environment. The ecological rehabilitation measures undertaken so far in order to mitigate the effects of mining activities cover just a small part of the affected environment and are not necessarily economically-efficient. Moreover, chemical, microbial, macromycetes- or yeast-based bioremediation, as well as the sorption on zeolits were less successful. A consortium of four partners, which clearly demonstrates deep expertise in the field with published results has been established. The main objective of this consortium’s project METAFORE consists of a comparative study of three novel polymer-based methods to remove heavy metals at Tarnita contaminated site: i) batch decontamination; ii) reflux decontamination through polymer layer; and iii) reflux decontamination of chelator-treated contaminated waters. Uptake of metals into the polymer will be calculated. Contaminating heavy metals will be removed from resin by acid treatment. The polymer mass will be used many times. The main advantage of our approach against others is the rapid removing of heavy metals and well monitoring of the decontamination process. An evaluation of vegetation state (dry mass of biological material, before and after treatment, number of plants on square meter etc) will be made on this site. Measurements will be addressed to the determination of metal concentrations in soil and waters before and after remediation. High amounts of copper, nickel, zinc, cobalt, arsenic, cadmium, molybdenum, barium, manganese, mercury, and lead are expected to be removed from soil and collection ponds. The pH values will be determined to investigate metal mobilization. A comparison between metal concentrations in soil and those in plants will be made. Growth and survival of forest trees and carpet plants will be monitored during the project span. Metal toxicity will be correlated with nutrient uptake, climate changes, and animal browse. Trace element uptake and translocation of metals will be monitored in leaves, tree rings growth, annual plants, and roots. The plant accumulation factor values (ratio of concentration in plant: that in soil) at Tarnita site will be established. These values will be calculated for each metal in dead leaves, fresh leaves, dead stems, and fresh stems, respectively. A laboratory facility will be built as a model of soil decontamination device. Then, a field prototype consisting of resin reactors, pumps, pipes, and sprinklers will be created and studied. The project presented herein will focus on rigorously identifying pollution sources, mitigating and proposing economical solutions for them and on advancing a comprehensive conceptual model that will stand as a scientific basis for the conservation of the local natural heritage. Results from this project will be disseminated in many ways (international conferences, workshops, peer-review papers, patents, project booklet, and project web site).

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator
List of research grants as partner team leader
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects