Jordi Palau Capdevila

Jordi Palau Capdevila

1537-1427 jpcgeo@idaea.csic.es
ORCID: 0000-0001-9492-7306
Research group: Groundwater and Hydrogeochemistry

My main research line is the development of isotope methods to demonstrate and quantify transformation processes of organic contaminants in the subsurface (soil and groundwater). Stable isotope methods are an innovative and powerful tool to assess transformation processes because they are associated with a characteristic shift of the isotope ratio of the contaminants (e.g., 13C/12C or 37Cl/35Cl), so called isotope fractionation. Specifically, my research mainly contributes to the application of compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA) to elucidate the fate and origin of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) in the field. This information is crucial to assess the effectiveness of engineered remediation techniques and for evaluation and verification of naturally occurring processes such as in situ biodegradation.
Since 2015, I’m also been involved in studies of microbial reduction of iron oxides from metal mine wastes in relation to trace elements biogeochemistry and potential impacts in aquatic environments.

I studied Earth Sciences at the Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and obtained my master degree (DEA) on Geotechnical Engineering and Geosciences, specialization on Hydrogeology, at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). I earned my doctorate in Earth Sciences at the UB (2008). After my PhD, I started as a postdoc at the Applied Mineralogy and Environment research group (MAiMA, Faculty of Earth Sciences, UB) and, in 2010, I earned a postdoctoral position at the Centre for Hydrogeology and Geothermics (CHYN, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland). My postdoctoral project was carried out within the frame of the Hydrochemistry and Contaminants research group. After the postdoctoral stay at the University of Neuchâtel, in 2015 I moved to the Institute of Environmental Assessment Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), department of Geosciences. Since 2015 I am also adjunct professor at the department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Applied Geology (Faculty of Earth Sciences, UB).

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