Dr. Juan Diego Rodriguez-Blanco

• 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 - 77Journal Article, 2016, TARA - Full Text
• 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
• 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 - 205Journal Article, 2016, 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 - 1181Journal Article, 2015, 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), 2015Journal 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 - 3090Journal 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 - 12179Journal Article, 2015, TARA - Full Text
• 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
• 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 - D30Journal Article, 2014
• 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 - 158Journal 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 - 148Journal Article, 2014, TARA - Full Text
• 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 - 1397Journal Article, 2014, TARA - Full Text
• 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 - 220Journal Article, 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 - 1380Journal 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
• 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 - 853Journal Article, 2012
• 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 - 3814Journal Article, 2012
• 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 - 258Journal Article, 2012, TARA - Full Text
• 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 - 72Journal Article, 2012
• 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 - S479Journal Article, 2012
• 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 - 4062Journal 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 - 271Journal 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 - 1016Journal 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 - 5205Journal Article, 2009
• 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 - 286Journal Article, 2008
• 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 - 939Journal 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
• 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 - 118Journal 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 - 242Journal Article, 2006, 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, DOI , URL , 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), 2014Thesis, 2014
• 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 - 6207Journal Article, 2016, DOI , TARA - Full Text
• 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 - 4508Journal Article, 2016, 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 - 1278Journal Article, 2017, DOI , TARA - Full Text
• 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 - 4680Journal Article, 2017, DOI , TARA - Full Text
• 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, ppEGU2017-1814Meeting Abstract, 2017
• 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 - 2763Journal Article, 2007, DOI
• 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, DOI , TARA - Full Text
• 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 - 5275Journal Article, 2017, 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 - 6230Journal Article, 2017, 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, DOI , TARA - Full Text
• Mia Rohde Nielsen, Magnesium Sulphate's Influence on Calcium Carbonate Minerals, New Insights into the role of the MgSO4° ion pair, University of Copenhagen, 2018Thesis, 2018
• Special Issue "Rare-Earth Carbonates", Minerals, [eds.], 2017-2018Editorial Board, 2017, URL
• Geosciences; Special Issue "Dynamics and Kinetics of Melt-Fluid-Rock Interactions", MDPI, [eds.], 2018-2018Editorial Board, 2018, 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 - 17Journal Article, 2019, 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 - 527Journal Article, 2021, DOI , TARA - Full Text
• 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.10505291.1Journal Article, 2020, DOI , URL
• 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, 2021Conference Paper, 2021
• 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, 2022Journal Article, 2022, DOI , URL
• 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, pp7-13Conference Paper, 2012, DOI , URL
• 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, p69-72Journal Article, 2012, DOI , URL
• 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, p1714-1715Journal Article, 2012, DOI , URL
• 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, p4049-4062Journal Article, 2011, DOI , URL
• 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 - 6935Journal Article, 2023, DOI , URL
• 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, 2023Journal Article, 2023
• Dideriksen, K. and Zhen-Wu, B.Y. and DobberschÃŒtz, 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), 2024Journal Article, 2024, DOI , URL
• 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, 2024Journal Article, 2024, DOI , URL
• 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, 2024Journal Article, 2024, DOI , URL
• 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, p13183-13196Journal Article, 2024, DOI , URL

• Hodson, M.E., Benning, L.G., Cinque, G., Dermachi, B., Frogley, M., Penkman, K.E.H., Rodriguez-Blanco, J.D., Schofield, P.F., Versteegh, E.A.A., Wehbe, K., Synchrotron-based micro Fourier transform infrared mapping to investigate the spatial distribution of amorphous and crystalline calcium carbonate in earthworm-secreted calcium carbonate balls., Spectroscopy Europe, 28, (3), 2016, p12 - 15Journal Article

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.

• Title

  SEparating Critical metals ThrOugh mineRal crystallization (SEleCTOR)
  Summary

  The goal of SEleCTOR is to develop novel, clean and cheap protocols to separate rare earths from waters. We will design functionally engineered nanosized carbonates with targeted structures and surface properties that will control the selective capture of specific rare earths from water. Rare earths (e.g., lanthanum, neodymium, dysprosium) are indispensable elements for smart technology and their utilisation is a key economic indicator. However, their supply is at risk in the medium term (2020-2030) because their demand is steadily increasing and their separation requires inefficient, expensive and environmentally aggressive extraction methods. SEleCTOR aims to build a deep, fundamental understanding of how rare earths fractionate during the formation of synthetic Ca-Mg-Sr carbonate nanominerals. By manipulating basic parameters (e.g., supersaturation, Ca/Mg/Sr ratio, pH, temperature) it will be possible to design carbonate nanominerals with targeted structural and surface properties that will promote the capture of specific rare earth elements from aqueous solutions. This method will decrease water contamination and reduce Ireland's reliance on energy imports. I will combine my world-class skills in mineral-water interaction and mineral formation processes with leading knowledge in carbonate and rare earth geochemistry at Trinity College Dublin to establish a unique platform for rare earth recovery.
  Funding Agency

  Science Foundation Ireland
  Date From

  01/09/2020
  Date To

  31/08/2024
• Title

  MetalIntelligence Research Training Network - Project: Efficient characterisation of minerals and fabrics with the scanning electron microscope
  Summary

  This project is part of the H2020 MetalIntelligence Research Network (European Industrial Doctorates - 6 PhD students). The general objectives of this research network are: i) Training and equipping a new generation of leaders in the minerals processing field. ii) Providing lasting novel technological and training methods to build capacity and improve efficiency. iii) Undertaking innovative research across the trans-disciplinary edges of sector compartments. This specific research project ("Efficient characterisation of minerals and fabrics with the scanning electron microscope") aims at bridging the gap between industry and academia in terms of mineral and material (natural or synthetic) characterisation. SEM-EDS allows for data acquisition within a reasonable timeframe and can be also used for in situ chemical analysis, grain association and mineral liberation analysis (MLA), using AZtec software, developed by industry partner Oxford Instruments. However, distinguishing among different grains and their associations is still difficult to be satisfactorily achieved and is very time-consuming. Thus, the key objective of this project is to improve the software limitations so as to make MLA quicker and more accurate, resulting in more industry-relevant analysis turnaround.
  Funding Agency

  European Commission
  Date From

  01/09/2017
  Date To

  31/08/2020
• Title

  Gypsum grows from sub-3 nm rod-shaped primary particles. What are they?
  Summary

  We studied the early stages of crystallization of calcium sulfates from solution to understand the early stage formation processes of bassanite, also known as "Plaster of Paris", and transformation to gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O)
  Funding Agency

  Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK
  Date From

  22/05/2015
  Date To

  24/05/2015
• Title

  Supercritical CO2 REactivity in polymineralic-fluid systems (SCORE)
  Summary

  The interaction of Ca-Mg-Fe bearing rocks with CO2 is a recommended technology to promote carbon capture and storage (CCS) via mineral trapping. Although much has been learned during the last decades about the CCS under basaltic reservoirs, the physicochemical relationships between water, dissolved ions and growing crystals in complex multicomponent systems are not well understood at the micro- and nanoscale and at the fundamental level. This knowledge gap is even larger when research involves supercritical CO2. For example, during the last decade much laboratory-based research on Ca-Mg-Fe carbonate formation has been focused on the dissolution and co-precipitation in CO2-rich aqueous solutions with one or two components (e.g., forsterite-magnesite system). However, research mimicking complex geologic systems involving multiple minerals and various ions simultaneously in solution and supercritical CO2 is very scarce. SCORE will experimentally fill this gap: We will follow a bottom-up experimental approach to study the formation mechanisms and kinetics of carbonate minerals at the atomic and nanoscale to evaluate the effect of multicomponent solutions and polymineralic systems during CCS under supercritical CO2 conditions. Results will allow predicting carbon uptake and reaction behaviour for large field sequestration projects.
  Funding Agency

  SFI via iCRAG
  Date From

  01/09/2022
  Date To

  31/08/2026
• Title

  Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer for the characterisation of geologic and environmentally-relevant materials and rocks
  Summary

  I applied to this funding scheme to purchase a FTIR Spectrometer for research and teaching purposes. This is a compact and versatile instrument used to obtain infrared spectra of solid materials. It can deliver reliable data by minimizing the steps needed to measure and identify materials. This instrument will be installed in the Earth Surface Research Laboratory (ESRL, that will act as a partner in this project) at Trinity College Dublin to provide state-of-the-art bulk-rock geochemical analyses for the research community in Ireland.
  Funding Agency

  Geological Survey Ireland
  Date From

  10/12/2021
  Date To

  10/12/2022
• Title

  Fundamental studies of carbonate biomineral formation processes - primary particles to aggregates
  Summary

  Synchrotron-based experiments to study the crystallisation of carbonates in situ and real-time. Co-principal investigator. I participated on proposal writing, design of experiments, attended beamtime and evaluated the synchrotron data.
  Funding Agency

  Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK
  Date From

  31/07/2009
  Date To

  04/08/2009
• Title

  TARGETing crystallisation for Enhanced Carbon Capture and Storage (TARGET-CCS)
  Summary

  This project aims to investigate the poorly understood geochemical conditions under which metastable carbonates can crystallise during the interaction of CO2-rich fluids with basaltic rocks in order to enhance their stability and maximise their capacity to store CO2.
  Funding Agency

  Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
  Date From

  01/09/2018
  Date To

  31/08/2022
• Title

  Targeting the crystallisation of environmentally and technologically important inorganic materials by a novel hydrothermal injection process.
  Summary

  In this project we aim to explore the crystallisation of environmentally and technologically relevant materials under hydrothermal conditions using a novel "hydrothermal injection" reactor designed at TCD. This reactor system allows targeting of the nucleation and growth of specific crystalline phases by the introduction of reagents to a pre-heated, pressurised aqueous system at the exact temperature desired. Internal temperature and pressure monitoring enable precise control of the sample environment. These combined factors will facilitate a greater understanding of the relationship between the hydrothermal conditions of temperature, pressure, and time and the structure and morphology of the obtained products, giving fundamental insights into crystallisation mechanisms and pathways. Here we aim to apply this novel reactor technology to developing a deeper understanding of the hydrothermal crystallisation of important naturally occurring minerals, such as the Ca-Mg-Sr carbonates, as well as expanding on existing work on the generation of functional II-VI semiconducting nanomaterials.
  Funding Agency

  Trinity College Dublin
  Date From

  01/09/2018
  Date To

  31/08/2021
• Title

  NanoCArB: The role of boron in the crystallisation and surface properties of CaCO3 at the nanoscale
  Summary

  marie_curieNanoCArB is an FP7 EU-funded Marie Curie project: "The role of boron in the crystallisation and surface properties of CaCO3 at the nanoscale". The goal of NanoCArB is to carry out an in depth study of the effects of boron in the chemistry and crystallisation of carbonates. How surface properties of calcite in contact with borate-rich solutions are affected at the atomic- and nanoscale, is a subject that only has been addressed in the laboratory from a basic viewpoint. This study will enable me to provide key information on how to improve water cleaning treatments, scaling inhibition methods, develop better strategies to extract oil from chalk, and also to advance in the understanding of processes that occur at the global scale (e.g. ocean acidification, climate change).
  Funding Agency

  EU FP7
  Date From

  2015
  Date To

  2016
• Title

  The crystallization of calcium sulphates: a mechanistic insight into an elusive process
  Summary

  I studied the crystallization of calcium sulfates from solution to understand the early stage formation processes of two of the most important industrial minerals (bassanite, also known as "Plaster of Paris" and gypsum).
  Funding Agency

  Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK
  Date From

  14/09/2012
  Date To

  18/09/2012
• Title

  Crystallization of calcium carbonate polymorphs in the presence of Mg, SO4 and PO4 ions: from primary nanoparticles to crystalline minerals
  Summary

  Synchrotron-based experiments to study crystallization of calcium carbonate polymorphs in the presence of Mg, SO4 and PO4 ions to shed light on the most important processes of carbonate biomineral formation in seawater. Co-principal investigator. I participated on proposal writing, design of experiments, attended beamtime and evaluated the synchrotron data.
  Funding Agency

  Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK
  Date From

  08/07/2010
  Date To

  12/07/2010
• Title

  Design of synthetic rare-earth carbonate minerals for chemical filters
  Summary

  Today, mineral-water interaction studies have become increasingly relevant to environmental problems. In particular, many studies address the use of ubiquitous minerals (e.g., gypsum, calcite) for the potential purification and removal of toxic pollutants from wastewaters. This project will evaluate the feasibility of synthetic rare-earth carbonates as green chemical filters for industry. In particular, the aims of this study are: (i) to find out the precise conditions at which rare- earth carbonates are able to remove specific (in)organic pollutants from natural waters, (ii) determine the mechanisms by which the removal of pollutants takes place, (iii) quantify the efficiency and reproducibility of the decontamination process and the course of the reaction over time. We will do this by carrying out batch experiments in which pollutants will be interacted with rare-earth carbonates while they crystallise from solution. We will test common and problematic soil pollutants: divalent and trivalent cations (e.g., Pb2+, Cr3+) and simple organics (e.g., chlorinated solvents like perchloroethene). Besides, a bonus to this project will be the use of synchrotron-based techniques to follow these reactions in situ and real time. This will allow us to obtain high-resolution kinetic data to understand the nature of the crystallisation mechanisms as well as the fate of pollutants.
  Funding Agency

  Trinity College Dublin
  Date From

  01/09/2019
  Date To

  31/08/2023
• Title

  Coarsening and stability of calcite in subsurface environments: an in-situ SAXS/WAXS study
  Summary

  Synchrotron-based experiments to study the coarsening of calcite at ambient and hydrothermal conditions. Principal investigator I wrote the proposal, designed experiments, attended beamtime and evaluated the synchrotron data.
  Funding Agency

  Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK
  Date From

  09/05/2014
  Date To

  13/05/2014

Pollution and contamination, Geoinformatics, Condensed matter physics, Electrical engineering, Hydrology, Environmental geoscience, Oceanography,

• Extraordinary Award of M.Sc. - Honorific Mention. University of Oviedo (Spain) 2003
• Distinguished Service Award (European Association of Geochemistry) 2014
• Distinguished Lecturer 2021 - European Association of Geochemistry 2021
• Extraordinary Doctoral Award - Honorific mention, given to a PhD thesis of a graduate student I supervised (University of Oviedo) 2015

• European Association of Geochemistry. Honorary Member. Now
• American Chemical Society 2016

• Assessor for funding bodies. Proposal evaluator for the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). 2017
• Assessor for funding bodies. Proposal evaluator for the Chilean National Science and Technology Commission. 2016
• Reviewer for periodical publications (on average a minimum of 15 papers/year) American Mineralogist (MSA), Applied Geochemistry (Elsevier), Applied Surface Science (Elsevier), Biogeosciences (EGU), CrystEngComm (RSC), Chemical Communications (RSC), Chemistry of Materials (ACS), Environmental Science & Technology (ACS), Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta (Elsevier), Geology (GSA), Journal of Crystal Growth (Elsevier), Journal of Hazardous Materials (Elsevier), Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure (Elsevier), Materials Research Bulletin (Elsevier), Minerals (MDPI), Mineralogical Magazine (GeoScienceWorld), Nanotoxicology (Informa Healthcare), Nanoscale (RSC). 2008-now
• Assessor for funding bodies. Proposal evaluator for the Ser Cymru II COFUND program - Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). 2016
• Member of the Editorial Board of the journal 'Minerals' (MDPI journals) 2016-now
• Assessor for funding bodies: Scientific evaluator of the HORIZON 2020 - FET-OPEN Challenging Current Thinking Research and Innovation Actions (RIA); FETOPEN-01-2018-2019-2020: FET-Open Challenging Current Thinking 2018-now
• Member of the Editorial Board of the journal 'Minerals' (MDPI journals) 2016-now
• Assessor for funding bodies. Proposal evaluator for the Australian synchrotron. 2015
• Assessor for funding bodies. Proposal evaluator for the Australian synchrotron. 2015
• Assessor for funding bodies. Proposal evaluator for the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). 2017
• Assessor for funding bodies. Proposal evaluator for the Chilean National Science and Technology Commission. 2016
• Assessor for funding bodies: Scientific evaluator of the HORIZON 2020 - FET-OPEN Challenging Current Thinking Research and Innovation Actions (RIA); FETOPEN-01-2018-2019-2020: FET-Open Challenging Current Thinking 2018-now
• Member of the Editorial Board of the journal 'Crystals' (MDPI journals) 2018
• Assessor for funding bodies. Proposal evaluator for the Ser Cymru II COFUND program - Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). 2016
• Reviewer for periodical publications (on average a minimum of 15 papers/year) American Mineralogist (MSA), Applied Geochemistry (Elsevier), Applied Surface Science (Elsevier), Biogeosciences (EGU), CrystEngComm (RSC), Chemical Communications (RSC), Chemistry of Materials (ACS), Environmental Science & Technology (ACS), Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta (Elsevier), Geology (GSA), Journal of Crystal Growth (Elsevier), Journal of Hazardous Materials (Elsevier), Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure (Elsevier), Materials Research Bulletin (Elsevier), Minerals (MDPI), Mineralogical Magazine (GeoScienceWorld), Nanotoxicology (Informa Healthcare), Nanoscale (RSC). 2008-now
• Graphical Advisor of the EAG international peer-reviewed journal 'Geochemical Perspectives' (www.geochemicalperspectives.org) 2013-now
• UK and Ireland Mineralogical Society representative at TCD. 2017-
• UK and Ireland Mineralogical Society representative at TCD. 2017-
• Assessor for funding bodies: Member of the Evaluation Panel of the Committee "Functioning of fluid and solid Earth" of the French National Research Agency (ANR, l'Agence Nationale de la Recherche). 2015-now
• Assessor for funding bodies: Member of the Evaluation Panel of the Committee "Functioning of fluid and solid Earth" of the French National Research Agency (ANR, l'Agence Nationale de la Recherche). 2015-now
• Graphical Advisor of the EAG international peer-reviewed journal 'Geochemical Perspectives' (www.geochemicalperspectives.org) 2013-now
• Member of the Editorial Board of the journal 'Crystals' (MDPI journals) 2018