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Environmental Chemistry and Recovery

Principal Investigator:
Marisa Almeida

The team research interests are focused in the environmental chemistry of coastal and estuarine environments, monitoring different contaminants, namely metals, hydrocarbons and emerging pollutants (e.g., pharmaceuticals, endocrine disrupting compounds and microplastics) in different environmental matrixes (water, sediment and biota) and studying the different biogeochemical processes of contaminants in water and soil compartments. The team also has a strong focus on the research of the potential of natural and constructed wetlands for the remediation of media contaminated with different pollutants and well as in exploring phytoremediation processes for environmental cleaning/recovery through nature-based solutions. By monitoring the reduction of the chemical contaminants levels due to the application of these tools and investigating contaminants processes leading to that removal, the research team generates essential knowledge to promote the use of these biotechnological tools for the removal of persistent and emergent pollutants. By collaborating also with teams of different expertise, such as those in microbial, ecological and toxicological fields, one of the team’s research interests is also to contribute for an holistic and interdisciplinary view of coastal and estuarine environments where physical, chemical and biological processes occur simultaneous and interconnected. The team also participates activity in science dissemination activities, regularly giving talks to the general public and school students in the frame of CIIMAR outreach programs and projects, regarding both ocean and water literacy.

TEAM

Publications Highlights

Santiago, P. F., Dias, S., Silva, C., Gomes, C. R.,  Almeida, C. M. R. (2022). Pharmaceuticals influence on Phragmites australis phytoremediation potential in Cu contaminated estuarine media. Pollutants, 2, 42–52.

Montenegro, I P. F. M., Mucha, A. P., Tomasino, M. P., Gomes, C. R., Almeida, C. R. M. (2021). Alkylphenols and chlorophenols remediation in vertical flow constructed wetlands: removal efficiency and microbial community response. Water, 13, 715.  

Stoichev, T., Marques, A., Almeida, C. R. M. (2021). Modeling the relationship between emerging and persistent organic contaminants in water, sediment and oysters from a temperate lagoon. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 164, 111994. 

Dias, S., Mucha, A. P., Crespo, R. D., Rodrigues, P., Almeida, C. R. M. (2020). Livestock wastewater treatment in constructed wetlands for agriculture reuse. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, 8592.

Almeida, C. R. M., Manjate, E., Ramos, S. (2020). Adsorption of Cd and Cu to different types of microplastics in estuarine salt marsh medium. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 151, 110797. 

Projects