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Dr. Juan Diego Rodriguez-Blanco
Associate Professor, Geology

Biography

I am an Ussher Associate Professor in Nanomineralogy.

I am an experimental mineralogist, highly experienced in crystallisation and environmental geochemistry. I have a strong successful track record in quantifying natural processes in the laboratory and applying these results to illuminating natural and societally relevant processes. Currently I am building a strong research group of experts in experimental nanomineralogy and also developing very strong national and international collaborations. My goals are to develop new methods for the removal of (in)organic waste products from drinking water, to and to design more energy efficient separation and recycling methods for strategic metals and to develop new carbon capture and storage techniques. The purpose of my research is to find out how to manage resources in a way that we can preserve the quality of life that we have now into the future generations.

In particular, my research is focused on the understanding of mineral nucleation and growth from solution and mineral-water interaction processes. I am using a multidisciplinary approach to understand:

a) Mineral formation and its role in geochemical cycles: I study the mechanisms of crystallisation of minerals at the nanoscale in order to understand the formation processes of carbonate minerals and their relevance for carbon capture and storage, biogeochemical element cycling and biomineralisation processes.

b) The interaction of common seawater ions, pollutants and organics with mineral surfaces: I aim to shed light on mineral-water reactions that can be applied to remediate polluted waters and soils, to control the mobility and to find new sources of strategic metals. In particular, I focus my work on the evaluation of the capacity of carbonates, sulphates and phosphates to remove pollutants and rare-earths from natural waters with the purpose of designing more energy efficient separation and recycling methods for strategic metals.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Dideriksen, K. and Zhen-Wu, B.Y. and DobberschÌtz, S. and Rodríguez-Blanco, J.D. and Raahauge, P.J. and Ataman, E. and Oelkers, E.H. and Stipp, S.L.S., A quantitative description of barite thermodynamics, nucleation and growth for reactive transport modelling, Applied Geochemistry, (106033), 2024 Journal Article, 2024 DOI

Maddin, M. and Rateau, R. and Szucs, A.M. and Terribili, L. and Hoare, B. and Guyett, P.C. and Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Chemical Textures on Rare Earth Carbonates: An Experimental Approach to Mimic the Formation of BastnÀsite, Global Challenges, 2024 Journal Article, 2024 DOI

Rateau, R. and Maddin, M. and Szucs, A.M. and Terribili, L. and Drost, K. and Guyett, P.C. and Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Utilization of Eggshell Waste Calcite as a Sorbent for Rare Earth Element Recovery, ACS Omega, 2024 Journal Article, 2024 DOI

Terribili, L. and Rateau, R. and Maddin, M. and Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., The role of fluocerite in the genesis of bastnÀsite: mechanistic insights and transformation pathways, Nanoscale, 16, (27), 2024, p13183-13196 Journal Article, 2024 DOI

Szucs A. M., Maddin M., Brien D., Rateau R., Rodriguez-Blanco J. D., The role of nanocerianite (CeO2) in the stability of Ce carbonates at low-hydrothermal conditions, RSC Advances, 13, (10), 2023, p6919 - 6935 Journal Article, 2023 URL DOI

Terribili, Luca; Rateau, Remi; Szucs, Adrienn Maria; Maddin, Melanie; Rodriguez-Blanco, Juan Diego , Impact of rare earth elements on CaCO3 crystallisation: Insights into kinetics, mechanisms, and crystal morphology, Crystal Growth & Design, 2023 Journal Article, 2023

Szucs, A.M. and Maddin, M. and Brien, D. and Guyett, P.C. and Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Targeted Crystallization of Rare Earth Carbonate Polymorphs at Hydrothermal Conditions via Mineral Replacement Reactions, Global Challenges, 2022 Journal Article, 2022 DOI

Szucs, Adrienn Maria; Stavropoulou, Alexandra; O'Donnell, Claire; Davis, Seana; Rodríguez Blanco, Juan Diego, Reaction pathways towards the formation of bastnäsite: replacement of calcite by rare earth carbonates., Crystal Growth & Design, 21, (1), 2021, p512 - 527 Journal Article, 2021 TARA - Full Text DOI

González-Santamaría, D.E., Justel A., Fernández, R., Ruiz, A.I., Stavropoulou, A., Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Cuevas, A., SEM-EDX study of bentonite alteration under the influence of cement alkaline solutions., Applied Clay Science, 212, 2021, p10622- Journal Article, 2021 DOI TARA - Full Text

Szucs, A.M., O'Donnell, C., Davis, S., Stavropoulou, A. and Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., How does bastnäsite form? Replacement of calcite by rare earth carbonates, 31th Annual V.M. Goldschmidt Conference, Lyon, France. Online conference, 2021, 2021 Conference Paper, 2021

Okhrimenko, D.V., Lakshtanov, L.Z., Olssonc, M.H.M., Ceccato, M., Dalby, K.N., Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Andersson, M.P., Stipp, S.L.S., Adsorption of nitrogen heterocyclic compounds (NHC) on soil minerals: Quinoline as an example., Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 611, 2021, p125899- Journal Article, 2021 DOI

Verma, Ankit Kumar; Bourke, Mary C.; Viles, Heather A.; Osinski Gordon R; Rodriguez-Blanco, Juan Diego, The effect of impact-generated heterogeneities and discontinuities on the subsequent weathering of impactites: insights from laboratory experiments, Earth and Space Science Open Archive, 2020, p10.1002/essoar.10505291.1 Journal Article, 2020 DOI URL

Müller, I.A., Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Storck, J-C, Santilli do Nascimento, G., Bontognali, T.R.R., Vasconcelos, C., Benning, L.G., Bernasconi, S.M., Calibration of the oxygen and clumped isotope thermometers for (proto-)dolomite based on synthetic and natural carbonates., Chemical Geology, 525, 2019, p1 - 17 Journal Article, 2019 DOI

Steele, A., Benning, L.G., Wirth, R., Siljeström, S., Fries, M.D., Hauri, E., Conrad, P.G., Rogers, K., Eigenbrode, J., Schreiber, A., Needham, A., Wang, J.H., McCubbin, F.M., Kilcoyne, D., Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Organic synthesis on Mars by electrochemical reduction of CO2, Science Advances, 4, 2018, peaat5118 (10 pages) Journal Article, 2018 TARA - Full Text DOI

Mia Rohde Nielsen, Magnesium Sulphate's Influence on Calcium Carbonate Minerals, New Insights into the role of the MgSO4° ion pair, University of Copenhagen, 2018 Thesis, 2018

Geosciences; Special Issue "Dynamics and Kinetics of Melt-Fluid-Rock Interactions", MDPI, [eds.], 2018-2018 Editorial Board, 2018 URL

Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D, From atoms to minerals: how calcium carbonates form and why we should care, Geophysical Research Abstracts, European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2017, Vienna, 2017, 19, 2017, ppEGU2017-1814 Meeting Abstract, 2017

Ossorio, M., Stawski, T.M., Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Sleutel, M., García-Ruiz, J.M., Benning, L.G., Van Driessche, A.E.S., Physicochemical and Additive Controls on the Multistep Precipitation Pathway of Gypsum., Minerals, 7, 2017, p140- Journal Article, 2017 TARA - Full Text DOI

Special Issue "Rare-Earth Carbonates", Minerals, [eds.], 2017-2018 Editorial Board, 2017 URL

Lorenz, B., Ceccato, M., Andersson, M.P., Dobberschütz, S., Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Dalby, K.N., Hassenkam, T., Stipp, S.L.S. , Salinity-Dependent Adhesion Response Properties of Aluminosilicate (K-Feldspar) Surfaces, Energy & Fuels, 31, 2017, p4670 - 4680 Journal Article, 2017 DOI TARA - Full Text

ACC and vaterite as metastable intermediates in the solution based crystallization of CaCO3. in, editor(s)Alexander van Driessche, Matthias Kellermeier, Liane G. Benning, Dennis Gebauer , New Perspectives on Mineral Nucleation and Growth, Switzerland, Springer International Publishing, 2017, pp69 - 88, [Juan Diego Rodriguez-Blanco, Karina K. Sand, Liane G. Benning] Book Chapter, 2017 TARA - Full Text URL DOI

Roncal-Herrero, T., Astilleros, J.M., Bots, P., Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Prieto, M., Benning, L.G., Fernandez-Diaz, L., Reaction pathways and textural aspects of the replacement of anhydrite by calcite at 25 °C., American Mineralogist, 102, 2017, p1270 - 1278 Journal Article, 2017 TARA - Full Text DOI

Besselink, R., Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Stawski, T.M., Benning, L.G., Tobler, D.J. , How short-lived ikaite affects calcite crystallisation, Crystal Growth & Design, 17, 2017, p6224 - 6230 Journal Article, 2017 DOI

Montanari, G., Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Bovet, N., Stipp, S.L.S.,Tobler, D.J., Impact of citrate ions on the nucleation and growth of anhydrous CaCO3, Crystal Growth & Design, 17, 2017, p5269 - 5275 Journal Article, 2017 DOI

Stawski, Tomasz M., van Driessche, Alexander E. S., Ossorio, Mercedes, Rodriguez-Blanco, Juan Diego, Besselink, Rogier, Benning, Liane G., Formation of calcium sulfate through the aggregation of sub-3 nanometre primary species, Nature Communications, 7, 2016, p10177- Journal Article, 2016 TARA - Full Text

Nielsen, M.R., Sand, K.K., Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Bovet, N., Generosi, J., Dalby, K.N., and Stipp S.L.S., Inhibition of Calcite Growth: Combined Effects of Mg2+ and SO42-, Crystal Growth & Design, 16, 2016, p6199 - 6207 Journal Article, 2016 TARA - Full Text DOI

Tobler, D.J., Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Sørensen, H.O., Stipp, S.L.S., Dideriksen, K., Effect of pH on Amorphous Calcium Carbonate Structure and Transformation., Crystal Growth & Design, 16, 2016, p4500 - 4508 Journal Article, 2016 DOI

Voigt, Martin, Rodriguez-Blanco, Juan Diego, Vallina, Beatriz, Benning, Liane G., Oelkers, Eric H., An experimental study of hydroxylbastnasite solubility in aqueous solutions at 25 degrees C, Chemical Geology, 430, 2016, p70 - 77 Journal Article, 2016 TARA - Full Text

Andersson, M. P., Rodriguez-Blanco, J. D., Stipp, S. L. S., Is bicarbonate stable in and on the calcite surface?, Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta, 176, 2016, p198 - 205 Journal Article, 2016 TARA - Full Text

Hodson, Mark E., Benning, Liane G., Demarchi, Bea, Penkman, Kirsty E. H., Rodriguez-Blanco, Juan D., Schofield, Paul F., Versteegh, Emma A. A., Biomineralisation by earthworms - an investigation into the stability and distribution of amorphous calcium carbonate, Geochemical Transactions, 16, (4), 2015 Journal Article, 2015 TARA - Full Text

Vallina, Beatriz, Rodriguez-Blanco, Juan Diego, Brown, Andrew P., Blanco, Jesus A., Benning, Liane G., The role of amorphous precursors in the crystallization of La and Nd carbonates, Nanoscale, 7, (28), 2015, p12166 - 12179 Journal Article, 2015 TARA - Full Text

Rodriguez-Blanco, Juan Diego, Shaw, Samuel, Benning, Liane G., A route for the direct crystallization of dolomite, American Mineralogist, 100, (5-6), 2015, p1172 - 1181 Journal Article, 2015 TARA - Full Text

Tobler, Dominique J., Rodriguez-Blanco, Juan Diego, Dideriksen, Knud, Bovet, Nicolas, Sand, Karina K., Stipp, Susan L. S., Citrate Effects on Amorphous Calcium Carbonate (ACC) Structure, Stability, and Crystallization, Advanced Functional Materials, 25, (20), 2015, p3081 - 3090 Journal Article, 2015 TARA - Full Text

Cobourne, G., Mountjoy, G., Rodriguez-Blanco, J. D., Benning, L. G., Hannon, A. C., Plaisier, J. R., Neutron and X-ray diffraction and empirical potential structure refinement modelling of magnesium stabilised amorphous calcium carbonate, Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 401, 2014, p154 - 158 Journal Article, 2014 TARA - Full Text

Hubbard, Christopher G., West, L. Jared, Rodriguez-Blanco, Juan Diego, Shaw, Samuel, Laboratory study of spectral induced polarization responses of magnetite - Fe2+ redox reactions in porous media, Geophysics, 79, (1), 2014, pD21 - D30 Journal Article, 2014

Rodriguez-Blanco, Juan Diego, Shaw, Samuel, Bots, Pieter, Roncal-Herrero, Teresa, Benning, Liane G., The role of Mg in the crystallization of monohydrocalcite, Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta, 127, 2014, p204 - 220 Journal Article, 2014

Vallina, B., Rodriguez-Blanco, J. D., Brown, A. P., Benning, L. G., Blanco, J. A., Enhanced magnetic coercivity of alpha-Fe2O3 obtained from carbonated 2-line ferrihydrite, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 16, (3), 2014, p2322- Journal Article, 2014

Vallina, Beatriz, Rodriguez-Blanco, Juan Diego, Blanco, Jesus A., Benning, Liane G., The effect of heating on the morphology of crystalline neodymium hydroxycarbonate, NdCO3OH, Mineralogical Magazine, 78, (6), 2014, p1391 - 1397 Journal Article, 2014 TARA - Full Text

Tobler, D. J., Blanco, J. D. Rodriguez, Dideriksen, K., Sand, K. K., Bovet, N., Benning, L. G., Stipp, S. L. S., Gaillardet, J, The effect of aspartic acid and glycine on amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) structure, stability and crystallization, Procedia Earth and Planetary Science, 10, 2014, p143 - 148 Journal Article, 2014 TARA - Full Text

Beatriz Vallina Antuña, The role and effect of rare-earth elements and Fe3+ during the crystallisation of nanostructured materials synthesised from carbonates, University of Oviedo (Spain), 2014 Thesis, 2014

Rodriguez-Blanco, Juan Diego, Vallina, Beatriz, Blanco, Jesus A., Benning, Liane G., The role of REE3+ in the crystallization of lanthanites, Mineralogical Magazine, 78, (6), 2014, p1373 - 1380 Journal Article, 2014 TARA - Full Text

Vallina, Beatriz, Rodriguez-Blanco, Juan Diego, Brown, Andrew P., Blanco, Jesus A., Benning, Liane G., Amorphous dysprosium carbonate: characterization, stability, and crystallization pathways, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 15, (2), 2013, p1438- Journal Article, 2013 TARA - Full Text

Bots, P., Benning, L. G., Rodriguez-Blanco, J. D., Roncal-Herrero, T., Shaw, S., Mechanistic Insights into the Crystallization of Amorphous Calcium Carbonate (ACC), Crystal Growth & Design, 12, (7), 2012, p3806 - 3814 Journal Article, 2012

Sand, K. K., Rodriguez-Blanco, J. D., Makovicky, E., Benning, L. G., Stipp, S. L. S., Crystallization of CaCO3 in Water-Alcohol Mixtures: Spherulitic Growth, Polymorph Stabilization, and Morphology Change, Crystal Growth & Design, 12, (2), 2012, p842 - 853 Journal Article, 2012

Van Driessche, A. E. S., Benning, L. G., Rodriguez-Blanco, J. D., Ossorio, M., Bots, P., Garcia-Ruiz, J. M., The Role and Implications of Bassanite as a Stable Precursor Phase to Gypsum Precipitation, Science, 336, (6077), 2012, p69 - 72 Journal Article, 2012

Sand, K.K. and Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D. and Makovicky, E. and Benning, L.G. and Stipp, S.L.S., Aragonite growth in water-alcohol mixtures: Classical or nonclassical crystallization?, 1419, 2012, pp7-13 Conference Paper, 2012 DOI

Van Driessche, A.E.S. and Benning, L.G. and Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D. and Ossorio, M. and Bots, P. and García-Ruiz, J.M., The role and implications of bassanite as a stable precursor phase to gypsum precipitation, Science, 335, (6077), 2012, p69-72 Journal Article, 2012 DOI

Rodriguez-Blanco, J. D., Shaw, S., Bots, P., Roncal-Herrero, T., Benning, L. G., The role of pH and Mg on the stability and crystallization of amorphous calcium carbonate, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 536, 2012, pS477 - S479 Journal Article, 2012

Pósfai, M. and Csákberényi-Malasics, D. and Kovács Kis, V. and Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D. and Benning, L.G. and ReÄ nik, A., Structures and Transformations of Synthetic and Bacterial Iron Monosulfides, Microscopy and Microanalysis, 18, 2012, p1714-1715 Journal Article, 2012 DOI

Csakberenyi-Malasics, D., Rodriguez-Blanco, J. D., Kis, V. K., Recnik, A., Benning, L. G., Posfai, M., Structural properties and transformations of precipitated FeS, Chemical Geology, 294, 2012, p249 - 258 Journal Article, 2012 TARA - Full Text

Roncal-Herrero, T. and Rodríguez-Blanco, J.D. and Oelkers, E.H. and Benning, L.G., The direct precipitation of rhabdophane (REEPO4 · H 2O) nano-rods from acidic aqueous solutions at 5-100 °c, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 13, (9), 2011, p4049-4062 Journal Article, 2011 DOI

Roncal-Herrero, T., Rodriguez-Blanco, J. D., Oelkers, E. H., Benning, L. G., The direct precipitation of rhabdophane (REEPO4 center dot nH(2)O) nano-rods from acidic aqueous solutions at 5-100 A degrees C, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 13, (9), 2011, p4049 - 4062 Journal Article, 2011

Rodriguez-Blanco, J. D., Shaw, S., Benning, L. G., The kinetics and mechanisms of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) crystallization to calcite, via vaterite, Nanoscale, 3, (1), 2011, p265 - 271 Journal Article, 2011

Astilleros, J. M., Godelitsas, A., Rodriguez-Blanco, J. D., Fernandez-Diaz, L., Prieto, M., Lagoyannis, A., Harissopulos, S., Interaction of gypsum with lead in aqueous solutions, Applied Geochemistry, 25, (7), 2010, p1008 - 1016 Journal Article, 2010

Roncal-Herrero, T., Rodriguez-Blanco, J. D., Benning, L. G., Oelkers, E. H., Precipitation of Iron and Aluminum Phosphates Directly from Aqueous Solution as a Function of Temperature from 50 to 200 degrees C, Crystal Growth & Design, 9, (12), 2009, p5197 - 5205 Journal Article, 2009

Rodriguez, J. D., Jimenez, A., Prieto, M., Torre, P., Garcia-Granda, S., Interaction of gypsum with As(V)-bearing aqueous solutions: Surface precipitation of guerinite, sainfeldite, and Ca2NaH(AsO4)(2)center dot 6H(2)O, a synthetic arsenate, American Mineralogist, 93, (5-6), 2008, p928 - 939 Journal Article, 2008

Rodriguez-Blanco, J. D., Shaw, S., Benning, L. G., How to make 'stable' ACC: protocol and preliminary structural characterization, Mineralogical Magazine, 72, (1), 2008, p283 - 286 Journal Article, 2008

Rodriguez-Blanco, J. D., Jimenez, A., Garcia-Granda, S., Prieto, M., Interaction of gypsum and As(V)(aq) at different pH ranges, Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta, 71, (15), 2007, pA846- Journal Article, 2007

Rodríguez-Blanco, J.D., Jiménez, A., and Prieto. M., Oriented Overgrowth of Pharmacolite (CaHAsO4·2H2O) on Gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O), Crystal Growth & Design, 7, 2007, p2756 - 2763 Journal Article, 2007 DOI

Kohler, S. J., Cubillas, P., Rodriguez-Blanco, J. D., Bauer, C., Prieto, M., Removal of cadmium from wastewaters by aragonite shells and the influence of other divalent cations, Environmental Science & Technology, 41, (1), 2007, p112 - 118 Journal Article, 2007

Jimenez, A., Rodriguez, J. D., Torre-Fernandez, L., Prieto, M., Garcia-Granda, S., Crystal structure of dicalcium sodium monohydrogen diarsenate hexahydrate, Ca2Na HAsO4 AsO4 center dot 6H(2)O, Zeitschrift Fur Kristallographie-New Crystal Structures, 221, (3), 2006, p241 - 242 Journal Article, 2006 TARA - Full Text

All 61 peer-reviewed publications

Research Expertise

Description

I am an experimental mineralogist, highly experienced in crystallisation and environmental geochemistry. My research focuses on mineral genesis and the interaction of aqueous species with mineral surfaces. I have a strong successful track record in the study the mechanisms of mineral nucleation and growth and the interaction of common seawater ions, pollutants and organics with mineral surfaces and their relevance to global-scale processes like biomineralisation, biogeochemical element cycling and the evolution of the global chemistry of the oceans. My main research objective is to transform the classical view of environmental mineralogy by developing novel applications in this field that will allow managing natural resources in a way that we can preserve the quality of life that we have now into the future generations. Since I started working at TCD I have been applying for funding to build a strong research group of highly-skilled experts in experimental mineralogy to fulfil this goal. All my funding applications have been successful, obtaining more than €900K as a PI in these programs: Frontiers for the Future (SFI), iCRAG PhD Recruitment Scheme (SFI), Provost PhD Awards (TCD), Intra-faculty TCD awards (TCD), Research Boost Programme (TCD). Besides, I have been principal supervisor in a EU-funded Marie Curie H2020 research training network (€530K), obtained funding to purchase equipment as a PI (Geological Survey Ireland Equipment Call 2021; €21K) and as a collaborator (SFI Research Infrastructure Programme 2021; €3.4M). This has allowed me to build a strong and motivated research group consisting (so far) of 7 PhD students (main supervisor of 5, co-supervisor of 2) and one postdoc. We work on topics like formation mechanisms of carbonate minerals for enhancing carbon capture and storage processes, design of mineral filters to decontaminate polluted waters, new green chemistry methods to separate strategic elements, and design of advanced microscopy techniques for mineral characterisation. My group also includes postgraduates from the MSc Environmental Sciences and MSc Energy sciences, as well as senior sophister students working on research projects about crystallisation, biomineral formation and carbon sequestration. Overall, my success in grant funding, research contributions, international collaborations, awards and invited talks at international conferences demonstrate my solid reputation in the fields of nanomineralogy and geochemistry.

Recognition

Awards and Honours

Distinguished Lecturer 2021 - European Association of Geochemistry 2021

Distinguished Service Award (European Association of Geochemistry) 2014

Extraordinary Doctoral Award - Honorific mention, given to a PhD thesis of a graduate student I supervised (University of Oviedo) 2015

Extraordinary Award of M.Sc. - Honorific Mention. University of Oviedo (Spain) 2003