University of Gothenburg
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Julian Alberto Gallego Urrea

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW

Department of Marine
Sciences
Telephone
+46 765-50 63 72
+46 765-50 63 72
Mail
julian.gallego@marine.gu.se
Visiting address
Kristineberg 566
450 34 Fiskebäckskil
Postal address
Kristineberg 566
450 34 Fiskebäckskil

About Julian Alberto Gallego Urrea

Contact details

Department of marine sciences

Telephone: +46 (0)76 55 06 372 E-mail: julian.gallego@marine.gu.se Address: Kristineberg 566, 451 78 Fiskebäckskil, Sweden

 

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8527-8084

 

 

Research

 My main research within marine sciences and the research group on marine environmental nanochemistry is in inorganic environmental aquatic chemistry with emphasis in analytical chemistry, colloidal chemistry and chemical modelling. I am particularly interested in approaches that help connecting aqueous phase environmental chemical modelling with chemical-particle dynamic analysis, with help of novel analytical techniques.

FRAM - centre for future chemical risk assessment and management strategies In the context of FRAM, I am providing support in the analysis of inorganic components in water and sediments, their speciation, their responses to environmental stressors and their interaction with other contaminants. I collaborate with the field studies planning and analysis providing insight on the possible interactions between different abiotic factors on the fate, transport and bioavailability of inorganic substances, either dissolved or in the particulate form.

MISTRA environmental nanosafety In Mistra environmental nanosafety program, I collaborate with the detection and fate work packages, using techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, SEM, with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, EDX, in order to identify elemental composition of inorganic particles.

Earlier research

In Nanofase project, our group developed experimental approaches for the detection of engineered nanoparticles in estuarine and seawater. We also collaborated in determining transformation rate constants (e.g. heteroaggregation) of nanoparticles relevant for mathematical modelling in a large scale basin modelling.

Chemical speciation The chemical speciation of trace metals in seawater is influenced by the presence of organic substances. Different types of exudates generated by organisms or derived from decomposition of organic matter, together with the organisms' biological interfaces (membranes) determines the bioavailability of metals to aquatic organisms. Variability in chemical speciation can thus have important ecological consequences.

As part of my postdoc, mesocosm and laboratory experiments were used to generate data on the organic complexation of selected trace metals in seawater, and on the oxidation rate of Fe(II), under changing pH and temperatures. These results were analysed using an in-house chemical speciation model later incorporated in large-scale modelling in the EU project Ocean Certain.

In parallel, the joint university project SHIpH was aimed to evaluate present and potential future acidification of the Baltic Sea as a result of sulphur and nitrogen oxide (SOX and NOX) emissions from commercial shipping under different regulatory regimes. This was assessed with help of a Baltic Sea biogeochemical model (Baltic-probe) in conjunction with other partners in the project.

The focus of my doctoral studies was in the recently developed field of study dealing with environmental risk assessment of manufactured nanoparticles, with emphasis on environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology. My aim in this field was the investigation and analysis of ecotoxicity and behaviour of silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles in natural aquatic environments. The research also included investigations of the fate and behaviour of manufactured nanomaterials on the environment, and collaborations on the development of analytical tools to analyse such manufactured nanoparticles at ambient ultra-low concentrations in the complex matrices of real aquatic environments.