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Dr. Hao Zhang

Senior Lecturer in Environmental Chemistry

Environmental Science Department
Lancaster University
Bailrigg
Lancaster, LA1 4YQ
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)1524 593899
Fax: +44 (0)1524 593985

Email: h.zhang@lancaster.ac.uk


Hao Zhang’s research has mainly focused on developing advanced environmental analytical techniques and understanding the biogeochemical processes affecting trace metals and other inorganic components in natural waters, sediments and soils. Within waters and soils particularly, the focus has been on developing an appreciation of the dynamics of exchange between solution, complexes and the solid phase, and their controls on bioavailability.

She has a BSc degree in Marine Chemistry from the Ocean University of Qingdao, China and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Brussels (ULB), Belgium. She has undertaken research in environmental chemistry at the Institute of Oceanography, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (1984-1987), the University of Brussels (1987-1991), Liverpool University (1992) and Lancaster University (1993-present). As well as advancing the use of AAS, ICP-MS and electrochemical techniques in environmental analysis, she pioneered the techniques of DGT and DET and has led their applications in waters, soils and sediments. Her research has advanced scientific understanding in several areas of environmental chemistry. DGT has been developed to measure metal speciation and dynamics in situ in natural waters. In soil research there have been two major developments: to investigate the kinetics of metal transfer from solid phase to solution and to mimic the major dynamic processes that control uptake of metals by plants. In sediments the focus on making measurements at high spatial resolution has provided new insights into the micro-heterogeneity of sediment processes, which is leading to the development of new 3 dimensional dynamic models of sediment biogeochemistry. While the core of the work is focused on metals, other components are being increasingly studied, including radionuclides and phosphorous.

Current Research Activities

Soils

  • Investigating the influences of soil dynamic processes and chemical speciation on metal uptake by plants.

  • Using a more mechanistically based soil nutrient assessment system to improve the prediction of plant nutrient requirements. (collaboration with CSIRO)

  • Developing and applying dynamic models to understand DGT-soil and plant-soil interactions.

  • Investigating the effect of mixtures of potentially toxic metals on earthworms using both experimental and modeling approaches. (collaboration with CEH)

  • New methods for integrated risk assessment of cumulative stressors by using DGT in pseudo-steady state and depletion modes.

Sediments

  • Understanding the micro-heterogeneity of trace elements in sediments through 2D high resolution measurements using DGT and DET techniques

  • Developing and applying a 3D transport, reaction and dynamic model to understand the biogeochemical processes of trace metals in sediments.

Waters

  • Investigating the importance of the speciation and dissociation kinetics of trace metals in natural waters using novel in situ measurements.

  • Developing anti-biofouling DGT for studying phosphorous chemistry in aquacultural waters. (collaboration with University of Montreal).

  • Event-triggered passive sampling for environmental regulatory monitoring of metals, nutrients and radionuclides.

PUBLICATIONS in the last 5 years

  1. Zhang, H. and Davison, W. (2001) In situ speciation measurements. Using DGT to determine inorganically and organically complexed metals. Pure Appl. Chem. 73, 9-15.

  2. Zhang, H., Zhao, F. J., Sun, B, Davison, W. and McGrath, S.P. (2001) A new method to measure effective soil solution concentration predicts copper availability to plants. Environ. Sci. & Technol., 35, 2602-2607.

  3. Gimpel, J., Zhang, H., Hutchinson, W. and Davison W. (2001) Effect of solution composition, flow and deployment time on the measurement of trace metals by the DGT technique. Anal. Chim. Acta. 448, 93-103.

  4. Murdoch, C., Kelly, M., Chang, L-Y., Davison, W. and Zhang, H. (2001) DGT as an in situ tool for measuring radio-caesium in natural waters. Env. Sci. Technol., 35, 4530-4535.

  5. Giusti, L. and Zhang, H. (2002) Heavy metals and arsenic in sediments, mussels and marine water from Murano (Venice, Italy). Environ. Geochem. & Health, 24 (1), 47-65.

  6. Tye, A. M., Young, S. D., Crout, N. M. J., Zhang, H., Preston, S. Bailey, E. H., Davison, W., McGrath, S. P., Paton, G. I. And Kilham, K. (2002) Predicting arsenic solubility in contaminated soils using isotopic dilution techniques. Env. Sci. Technol.36, 982-988.

  7. Ernstberger, H., Davison, W., Zhang, H., Tye, A. and Young, S. (2002) Measurement and dynamic modeling of trace metal mobilization in soils using DGT and DIFS. Env. Sci. Technol. 36 (3), 349-354.

  8. Mole, N., Palmgren, F and Zhang H. (2002) Pollutant measurements. In Encyclopedia of Environmetrics. El-Shaarawi A. H. and Piegorsch, W. W. (editors), John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, Vol. 3, pp. 1590-1598.

  9. Lombi, E., Zhao, F.J., Zhang, G, Sun, B., Fitz, W., Zhang, H. and McGrath, S.P. (2002) In situ fixation of metals using bauxite residue: chemical assessment. Environ. Pollut. 118, 435-444.

  10. Dahlqvist, R., Zhang, H., Davison, W. and Ingri, J. (2002) Performance of DGT (diffusive gradients in thin films) for measuring Ca and Mg in freshwater. Anal. Chim. Acta. 460, 247-256.

  11. Mortimer, R.J.G., Krom, M.D., Harris, S.J., Hayes, P.J., Davies, I.M, Davison, W., & Zhang, H. (2002) Evidence for suboxic nitrification in recent marine sediments. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 236, 31-35.

  12. Lee, M.R., Correa, J.A. and Zhang, H (2002) Effective metal concentrations in porewater and seawater labile metal concentrations associated with copper mine tailings disposal into the coastal waters of the Atacama region of northern Chile. Mar. Pollu. Bulletin, 49, 956-961.

  13. Zhang, H., Davison, W., Mortimer, R., Krom, M., Hayes, P.J. and Davies, I.M.(2002) Structured Remobilisation of Metals in a Marine Sediment at High Spatial Resolution. Sci. Total Environ. 296, 175-187.

  14. Ernstberger, H., Zhang, H., Davison, W. (2002) Simultaneous in situ measurement of chromium speciation in natural systems. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 373, 873-879.

  15. Krom, M.D., Mortimer, R.J.G., Poulton, S.W., Hayes, P., Davies, I.M., Davison, W., & Zhang, H. (2002). In-situ determination of dissolved iron production in recent marine sediments. Aquatic Science, 64, 282-291.

  16. Walker, T.R., Young , S.D., Crittenden P.D. & Zhang H. (2002) Anthropogenic metal enrichment of snow and soil in North-Eastern European Russia, Environ. Pollut. 121, 11-21.

  17. Gimpel, J. Zhang, H and Davison, W. (2003) In-situ trace metal speciation in lake surface waters using DGT, dialysis and filtration. Env. Sci. Technol, 37 (1), 138-146.

  18. Tye, A. M., Young, S. D., Crout, N. M. J., Zhang, H., Preston, S. Bailey, E. H., Davison, W., McGrath, S. P., Paton, G. I., Kilham, K. and L. Resende (2003) Predicting solution pCd2+ and pZn2+ from labile and total soil metal pools. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 67, 375-385.

  19. Scally, S., Davison, W. and Zhang, H. (2003) In situ measurements of dissociation kinetics and labilities of metal complexes in synthetic solutions using DGT. Env. Sci. Technol., 37, 1379-1384.

  20. Peters, A., Zhang, H. and Davison, W. (2003) Investigation of the application of DGT devices for measurement of trace metals in low ionic strength freshwaters. Anal. Chim. Acta., 478, 237-244.

  21. Degryse, F., Smolders, E., Oliver, I. and Zhang, H. (2003), Relating soil solution Zn concentration to DGT measurements in contaminated soils, Env. Sci. Technol., 37, 3958-3965.

  22. Motelica-Heino, M., Naylor, C., Zhang, H. and Davison, W. (2003), Simultaneous release of metals and sulphide in lacustrine sediment, Env. Sci. Technol, 37, 4374-4381.

  23. Fitz, W.J., Wenzel, W.W., Zhang, H., Nurmi, J., Köllensperger, G., Štipek, K., Fischerova, Z., Schweiger, P., Ma, L.O. Stingeder, G.J. (2003) Rhizosphere characteristics of the arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L. and monitoring techniques for its use in phytoextraction. Env. Sci. Technol. 37, 5008-5014.

  24. Fitz, W.J., Wenzel, W.W., Zhang, H., Nurmi, J., Köllensperger, G., Štipek, K., Fischerova, Z., Schweiger, P., Ma, L.O. Stingeder, G.J. (2003) Rhizosphere characteristics of the arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L. and monitoring techniques for its use in phytoextraction. Env. Sci. Technol. 37, 5008-5014.

  25. Song, J., Zhao, F. J., Luo, Y. M., McGrath, S.P., Zhang, H. (2004), Copper uptake by Elsholtzia splendens and Silene vulgaris and assessment of copper phytoavailability in contaminated soils, Environ. Pollut. 128, 307-315.

  26. Zhang, H. (2004), Competition effects on the binding of Ni, Zn and Cu by organic matter. Env. Sci. Technol, 38, 1421-1427.

  27. Warnken, K., Zhang., H. and Davison W. (2004), Performance characteristics of suspended particulate reagent- iminodiacetate (SPR-IDA) as a binding agent for diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT), Anal. Chim. Acta, 508, 41-51.

  28. Zhang, H., Lombi, E., Smolders, E., McGrath, S. (2004) Zn availability in field contaminated and spiked soils, Env. Sci. Technol. 38, 3608 - 3613.

  29. Tye, A., Zhang, H., Young, S., Crout, N., Tandy, S., Preston, S., Zhao, F. and Barbosa-Jefferson, V.L. (2004), Speciation and solubility of Cu, Ni. Pb and Hg in contaminated soils. Euro. J. Soil Sci. 55, 579-590.

  30. Warnken, K., Zhang., H. and Davison W. (2004) Micro scale analysis of metals using DGT and laser ablation ICP-MS, Anal. Chem. 76, 6077-6084.

  31. Scally S., Zhang H. and Davison, W. (2004) Measurements of lead speciation in synthetic solutions using DGT, Aus. J. Chem. 57, 920-935.

  32. Hough, R. L., Tye, A., Crout, N., McGrath, S.P., Zhang, H., Young, S. (2005) Evaluating a Free Ion Activity Model applied to metal uptake by Lolium perenne L. grown in contaminated soils. Plant & Soil, 270, 1-12.

  33. Nolan, A., Zhang, H. and McLaughlin, M. J. (2005) Prediction of zinc, cadmium, lead and copper availability to wheat in contaminated soils using chemical speciation, diffusive gradients in thin-films, extraction, and isotopic dilution techniques. J. Environ. Qual. 34, 496-507.

  34. Ernstberger, H., Zhang, H., Davison, W. Tye, A. and Young, S. (2005) Trace metal partitioning and sorption kinetics in relation to soil properties. Env. Sci. Technol. 39, 1591-1597.

  35. Unsworth E., Zhang H. and Davison, W. (2005) Use of DGT to measure cadmium speciation in solutions with synthetic and natural ligands: comparison with model predictions. Env. Sci. Technol. 39, 624-630.

  36. French, M. A, Zhang, H., Pates, J. M., Bryan, S. E. and Wilson, R. C. (2005), Development and performance of the diffusive gradients in thin films technique for the measurement of technetium-99 in seawater . Anal. Chem. 77, 135-139

  37. Tandy, S., Barbosa, V., Tye, A., Preston, S., Paton, G., Zhang H. and McGrath S. (2005). Comparison of different microbial bioassays to assess metal contamination in soils, Environ. Toxicol & Chem. 24, 530-536.

  38. Mason, S. D, Hamon R. E, Nolan, A. L. Zhang, H. and Davison, W. (2005), Performance of a mixed binding layer (MBL) for measuring anions and cations in a single assay using the diffusive gradients in thin films technique, Anal. Chem., 77,6339-6346.

  39. Warnken, K., Zhang., H. and Davison W. (2005) Trace metal measurements in low ionic strength synthetic solutions by diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT), Anal. Chem. 77, 5440-5446.

  40. Young, S.D., Zhang, H., Tye, A.M., Maxted, A., Thums, C. and Thornton, I. (2006) Characterising the availability of metals in contaminated soils. Part I: the solid phase. Soil Uses and Management, 21, 450-458.

  41. Zhang, H. and Young, S. (2006) Speciation techniques in soil solution, Soil Uses and Management. 21, 459-467

  42. Crout, N. M. J., Tye, A. M., Zhang, H., McGrath, S. P. and Young, S. D. (2006). Kinetics of metal fixation in soils: measurement and modelling by isotopic dilution and pore water speciation. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 25, 659-663.

  43. Zhao, F. J., Rooney, C., Zhang, H. and McGrath, S. (2006). Comparison of soil solution speciation and DGT measurement as an indicator of copper bioavailability to plants. Environ. Toxicol. Chem.25, 733-742.

  44. Zhang, H., Davison, W. Tye, A. M. Crout, N. M. J. and Young, S. D. (2006). Kinetics of Zn and Cd release in freshly contaminated soils measured by DGT and isotopic dilution. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 25, 664-670.

  45. Lehto, N., Davison, W., Zhang H. and Tych, W. (2005). Analysis of trace metal behaviour in the rhizosphere using a DGT Parameterised Plant Uptake Model (DPPUM). Plant & Soil, 282, 227-238.

  46. Scally, S., Davison, W. and Zhang, H. (2006), Diffusion Coefficients of Metals and Metal Complexes in Hydrogels Used in DGT, Anal. Chim. Acta. 558, 222-229.

  47. Unsworth, E. R., Warnken, K. W., Zhang, H., Davison, W. et al. (2006) Model predictions of metal speciation in freshwaters compared to measurements by in situ techniques. Environ. Sci. Technol. 40, 1942-1949.

  48. Sigg, L., Black, F.; Buffle, J. et al. Zhang, H. (2006) Comparison of analytical techniques for dynamic trace metal speciation in natural freshwaters. Environ. Sci. Technol. 40, 1934-1941.

  49. Warnken, K., Zhang., H. and Davison W. (2006) Accuracy of the diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) technique: diffusive boundary layer and effective sampling area considerations, Anal. Chem. 78, 3780-3787.

  50. Zhang, H. and Davison, W. (2006), (BC) Predicting metal uptake by plants using DGT technique. NATO Science Series IV - Earth and Environmental Sciences, in press.

  51. Hooda, P. and Zhang, H. (2006) (BC) “DGT measurements to predict metal bioavailability in soils”in Chemical Bioavailability in the Terrestrial Environment, Ed. R. Naidu, in press.

  52. Garmo, O. A., Lehto, N. J., Zhang, H., Davison, W., Røyset, O., Steinnes, E. (2006) Dynamic Aspects of DGT as Demonstrated by Experiments with Lanthanoide Complexes of a Multidentate Ligand, Environ. Sci. Technol.. In press.

  53. Lehto, N., Davison, W., Zhang H. and Tych, W. (2006). An Evaluation of DGT Performance Using a Dynamic Numerical Model, Environ. Sci. Technol.. In press

  54. Sochaczewski, L., Tych, W., Davison, W. and Zhang H. (2006). 2D DGT Induced Fluxes in Sediments and Soils (2D DIFS). J. Environ. Modelling. in press.

  55. Lehto, N., Davison, W., Zhang H. and Tych, W. (2006). Theoretical comparison of how soil processes affect uptake of metals by DGT and plants. J. Environ. Qual. in press.

  56. Tankere-Muller, S., Zhang, H., Davison, W., Finke, N., Larsen, O., Stahl, H. and Glud, R. N. (2006) Fine scale remobilisation of Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu and Cd in contaminated marine sediment, Mar. Chem., in press.

Lancaster Environment Centre
Lancaster University