Contamination of groundwater may occur by disperse (e.g. agricultural activities) or single-point sources (e.g. industrial sites, waste deposits). Depending on the natural groundwater composition and the flow regime contaminants may spread more or less rapidly and develop so-called contamination plumes in the aquifer. As most of the contaminants (e.g. heavy metals, various organic compounds, pesticides) pose a serious risk to groundwater and thus to the health of any living being, these resources need to be protected and – in case of a contamination – remediated to the best degree possible.
In our team we mainly focus on groundwater contamination by heavy metals. Our research follows an integrated approach using laboratory experiments, field investigations, and numerical modelling in conjunction with new analytical tools such as stable isotope measurements. In particular, we aim at investigating the geochemical behaviour of heavy metals in the environment and at optimizing remediation strategies. In this context we offer Master Thesis topics for students seeking to conduct research in an application-oriented field.
Recent projects include the evaluation of remediation strategies for the heavy metal contamination caused by sulfide mining in the Sultanate of Oman (Wanner P. et al., 2015), and for chromate contaminations occurring at various sites in Switzerland (Wanner C. et al., 2012). The release of heavy metals into the environment associated with sulfide oxidation is further studied at a natural analogue site located in the Engadin Valley in Switzerland (Ghebremedhin, MSc Thesis 2016).
