Research

Description

Over the years, the ESF research group, part of the wider disciplinary scientific sector of Agricultural Chemistry, has acquired specific expertise in the field of environmental soil functions, both in relation to the biological fertility of agricultural soils and in the wider context of exchange between soil-atmosphere and soil-hydrosphere. The group has long enjoyed scientific visibility both at national and international level.

The research activity focuses on the different aspects of the fundamental environmental and agronomic role of the organic and biological component of soil and its influence on the flow of nutrients and pollutants between the soil and the hydrosphere and atmosphere compartments. Besides the historically developed issues related to the recycling of organic wastes, the interest of the group has turned to the action of the soil as biologically active interface with the athmosphere in the production and absorption of greenhouse gases, as well as in the immobilization of toxic metals, with particular reference to the effects of the oxidation-reduction processes in transition environments (lagoons, submerged areas).

The numerous collaborations with other Italian and foreign research groups, witnessed by joint publications, have made it possible to maintain research at a competitive level in the sector.

Research subjects

Processi di stabilizzazione della sostanza organica nel suolo e durante il trattamento di rifiuti organici e reflui.
Isolamento e caratterizzazione di componenti della sostanza organica umificata isolata da matrici diverse (suolo, acqua, torba, compost, liquami).
Metano-produzione e metano-ossidazione nel suolo.
Analisi di rischio ecologico e valori di fondo naturale/antropico del mercurio nei suoli dell’isontino.
Speciazione e caratterizzazione dei principali metalli potenzialmente tossici (PTE) nel suolo.
Fattori che influenzano la precipitazione dei metalli tossici come solfuri negli ambienti di transizione.