Research

Overview

The Parikh Environmental Soil Chemistry Lab at UC Davis investigates how interactions between minerals, organic matter, microbes, plants, and contaminants / nutrients in natural environments influence biogeochemical cycles, environmental quality, food safety, and human health. Examples of key research areas/interests are:

• Examining transport and degradation mechanisms for pharmaceuticals, hormones, and personal care products in soil and water (i.e., ground, surface, wastewater);
  
  
• Studying metal(loid) and nanoparticle fate in soil, water, and plants to ensure food safety, enhance phytoremediation, and minimize contaminant transport and bioavailability;
  
  
• Developing novel methodologies for soil and water remediation (organic contaminants, metal(loid)s, nutrients;
  
  
• Evaluating the potential of biochar soil amendments to impact soil fertility, nutrient retention, greenhouse gas emissions, dust generation, and contaminant transport;
  
  
• Examining the potential for recycling of wastewater and waste materials (e.g., biosolids, manure, biochar) in agriculture to maximize benefits and minimize risk;
  
  
• Elucidating the role of bacterial surface biomolecules in cell adhesion and biomineralization/dissolution reactions; and
  
  
• Studying environmental processes which influence nutrient cycling, fate, and bioavailability. 
  
  

Ongoing Projects

• Remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils with biochar
  
  
• Determination of arsenic speciation in rice and environmental samples

• Soil carbon management for ecological services and drought resilience

• Examining mechanisms of transport and bioaccumulation of engineered nanoparticles into food crops
  
  
• Remediation of soil and water contaminated with arsenic, cadmium, and lead

• Evaluation of biochar for on-farm soil management in California
  
  
• Investigating the solubilization of soil phosphorus and transport into plants
  
  
• Evaluating the electrochemical properties of biochars for nutrient availability, greenhouse gas
  emissions, and contaminant fate

• Development of novel applications of animal wastes and biochar for nutrient capture and subsequent fertilizer value

• Evaluating inhalation exposure of biochar particulate matter and bound contaminants from agricultural associated dust

• Examining biochar soil amendments for reduced bioavailability of pharmaceuticals and heavy metals
  
  
• The UC Davis Biochar Database to connect biochar physical and chemical properties

 

 

Cartoon depicting a general overview of research being carried out in the Environmental Soil Chemistry Lab at UC Davis.