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Geochemistry professor Dr. Bau receives highest award for research!
Dr. Michael Bau from Constructor University receives the title of "Geochemistry Fellow" for his outstanding research on rare earths.
Geochemistry professor Dr. Bau receives highest award for research!
Dr. Michael Bau, Professor of Geosciences at the Constructor University, was recently honored as a “Geochemistry Fellow.” This prestigious honor is presented annually by the American Geochemical Society and the European Association of Geochemistry. The award will be presented at the Goldschmidt Conference in Prague in the summer.
Bau, who has worked at Constructor University since 2003, has made a decisive contribution to the development of geoscience courses, particularly in the areas of “Earth Sciences” and “Sustainable Management of Environmental Resources”. His research covers a broad spectrum, including the analysis of rare earths as well as other critical raw materials such as hafnium, gallium, lithium and scandium and their behavior in the environment.
Research on rare earths
One of Bau's most significant achievements is the expansion of the traditional understanding of rare earths, moving from REE (Rare Earth Elements) to REY (Rare Earths and Yttrium). Current research focuses in particular on gadolinium, which is detected in rivers, drinking water as well as in plants, animals and food. Gadolinium, which is often used in MRI contrast agents, sometimes occurs in alarming concentrations and can serve as an indicator of drug residues in the environment.
Bau is also dedicated to the study of rare earths and lithium in geothermal and reservoir waters. Another research focus is the development of oceans and the atmosphere in the early history of the Earth.
The importance of rare earths in the environment
The increased presence of rare earth metals such as cerium and gadolinium in wastewater is a growing problem. Studies by the Eawag in 63 wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in Switzerland have shown that these metals are increasingly entering the wastewater from industrial sources and hospitals. The study, which was carried out on behalf of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), aimed to distinguish the origin of rare earths in the wastewater.
Eawag analyzed soil samples using PAAS values to determine the natural background pattern of rare earths in Switzerland. While most WWTPs have concentrations that correspond to the natural background pattern, elevated concentrations of individual rare earths have been found in some plants, particularly in Yverdon, Bioggio, Hofen and Thal. Cerium, which is often used as an abrasive in industry, has the highest concentrations - an estimated 4,000 kilograms of cerium enter the WWTPs annually, with around half coming from industrial applications.
What is particularly worrying is that around 95 percent of the cerium remains in the sewage sludge, while gadolinium is hardly retained in the WWTPs and enters the waterways with the treated wastewater. It is expected that increased cerium concentrations will also be detected in lakes, rivers or groundwater in the future.
Dr. Bau's significant award not only recognizes his individual achievements, but also shines a spotlight on important environmental issues, particularly with regard to the use and management of rare earths.