Responsibilities and Interests:

Among the research topics of interest to us in the Environmental Soil Chemistry program are:

• The speciation of trace and toxic elements in the soil solution. A typical soil solution will easily contain 100-200 different soluble complexes that involve metal cations, anions, and organic ligands. The determination of the distribution of ions in their various chemical forms is what we call “speciation” of the soil solution. Chemical speciation affects biological availability, mobility, and transport in soil environments.
• The chemical forms and distribution of trace and toxic elements on solid phases present in soils. We use state-of-the-art techniques to study the micro-distribution and associations of elements in soils and soil aggregates as well as the type of chemical bond that hold the element onto the solid phase. These are critical factors determining contaminant behavior in soil environments.
• The biogeochemical cycling of elements in soils. What we see in natural environments is most probably a combination of chemical, biological, and even physical phenomena. In polluted soil environments, for example, bacterially-mediated (biogenic) mineral formation (and dissolution) may be a response to metal stress.
• “In situ” soil remediation involving the neoformation of minerals. In our approach we will promote the in situ neoformation of minerals. When toxic elements are part of a mineral structure, their solubility, and therefore potential bioavailability and mobility, will be highly reduced.

The approach of the environmental soil chemistry laboratory is to combine traditional macroscopic, solution chemistry techniques with microscopic and spectroscopic analyses to elucidate the mechanisms and interactions affecting natural systems under environmentally realistic conditions. Please do not hesitate to ask about any of the potential research topics or to propose a different topic that might be of interest to you.

The Environmental and Soil Chemistry Group Participates in Other Interdisciplinary Programs at Penn State.

Center for Environmental Chemistry and Geochemistry (CECG)
http://www.essc.psu.edu/CECG/

Biogeochemical Research Initiative for Education (BRIE)
http://www.ems.psu.edu/BRIE/

Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology (IGDPE)
http://ecology.psu.edu/

Women in Science and Engineering Research (WISER)
http://www.psu.edu/spacegrant/wiser/

Minority Undergraduate Research Experience (MURE)
http://www.psu.edu/spacegrant/mure/

Center for Environmental Kinetics Analysis (CEKA)
http://www.ceka.psu.edu

Education:

• Ph.D., Environmental and Soil Chemistry, Rutgers University, 1995.
• M.S., Environmental Chemistry, Rutgers University, 1989.
• B.S., Chemistry with High Honors, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, 1986.

Professional Background:

• Associate Professor, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 2008 - present.
• Assistant Professor, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 2002–2008.
• Research Associate III in Environmental Biogeochemistry, Cornell University, 1999–2002.
• Post Doctoral Associate in Environmental and Soil Chemistry, Cornell University, 1996–1999.
• Post Doctoral Associate in Soil Biochemistry, Iowa State University, 1995–1996.

Selected Publications:

1. Stuckey, J.W.; Neaman, A.; Ravella, R.; Komarneni, S; Martínez, C.E. 2009. Highly charged swelling mica reduces Cu bioavailability in Cu-contaminated soils. Environmental Pollution, 157, 12–16.
2. Stuckey, J.W.; Neaman, A.; Ravella, R.; Komarneni, S; Martínez, C.E. 2008. Highly charged swelling mica reduces free and extractable Cu levels in Cu-contaminated soils. Environmental Science & Technology. 42, 9197–9202.
3. Martínez, C.E.; Martínez-Villegas, N. 2008. Copper-alumina-organic matter mixed systems: alumina transformation and copper speciation as revealed by EPR spectroscopy. Environmental Science & Technology. 42, 4422–4427.
4. Martínez-Villegas, N.; Martínez, C.E. 2008. Solid- and solution- phase organics dictate copper distribution and speciation in multi-component systems containing ferrihydrite, organic matter, and montmorillonite. Environmental Science & Technology. 42, 2833–2838.
5. Neaman, A.; Martínez, C.E.; Trolard, F.; Bourrié, G. 2008. Trace element associations with Fe- and Mn-oxides in soil nodules: comparison of selective dissolution with electron probe microanalysis. Applied Geochemistry. 23, 778–782.
6. Ravella, R.; Komarneni, S; Martínez, C.E.. 2008. Highly charged swelling mica-type clays for selective Cu exchange. Environmental Science & Technology. 42, 113–118.
7. Martínez, C.E.; Yáñez, C.; Yoon, S.; Bruns, M.A. 2007. Biogeochemistry of metalliferous peats: Sulfur speciation and depth distributions of dsrAB Genes and Cd, Fe, Mn, S, and Zn in Soil Cores. Environmental Science & Technology, 41, 5323–5329.
8. Ahn, Mi-youn; Dec, J.; Archibald, D.D.; Martínez, C.E.; Bollag, J.M. Characteristics of Trametes villosa laccase adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide. Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 2007, 41, 141–148.
9. Martínez, C.E.; Bazilevskaya, K.A.; Lanzirotti, A. Zinc coordination to multiple ligand atoms in organic-rich surface soils. Environmental Science & Technology, 2006, 40, 5688–5695.
10. Ahn, Mi-youn; Martínez, C.E.; Archibald, D.D.; Zimmerman, A.R.; Bollag, J.M. Dec, J.; “Transformation of catechol in the presence of a laccase and birnessite”. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2006, 38, 1015–1020.
11. McBride, M.B.; Barrett, K.A.; Martínez, C.E. “Zinc and cadmium distribution and leaching in a metalliferous peat”. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 2005, 171, 67–80.
12. Solomon, D.; Lehmann, J.; Lobe, I.; Martínez, C.E.; Tveitnes, S.; DuPreez, C.C.; Amelung, W. “Sulphur speciation and biogeochemical cycling in long-term arable cropping of subtropical soils: evidence from wet-chemical reduction and S K-edge XANES spectroscopy”. European Journal of Soil Science, 2005, 56, 621–634.
13. Jacobson, A.R.; Martínez, C.E.; Spagnuolo, M.; McBride, M.B.; Baveye, P. “Reduction of silver solubility by humic acid and thiol ligands during acanthite (β-Ag₂S) dissolution”. Environmental Pollution, 2005, 135, 1–9.
14. Martínez, C.E., Jacobson, A.R., McBride, M.B. Lead phosphate minerals: solubility and dissolution by model and natural ligands. Environmental Science & Technology, 2004, 38, 5584–5590.
15. Spagnuolo, M., Martínez, C.E., Jacobson, A.R., Baveye, P., McBride, M.B., and Newton, J. Coprecipitation of trace metals during the synthesis of hectorite. Applied Clay Science, 2004, 27, 129–140.
16. Solomon, D.; Lehmann, J.; Martínez, C.E. “Sulfur K-edge XANES spectroscopy as a tool for understanding sulfur dynamics in soil organic matter”. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 2003, 67, 1721–1731.
17. Martínez, C.E.; Jacobson, A.R.; McBride, M.B. “Aging and temperature effects on DOC and elemental release from a metal contaminated soil”. Environmental Pollution, 2003, 122, 135–143.
18. Martínez, C.E.; McBride, M.B.; Kandianis, M.T.; Duxbury, J.M.; Yoon, S.; Bleam, W.F. “Zinc-sulfur and cadmium-sulfur association in metalliferous peats: evidence from spectroscopy, distribution coefficients, and phytoavailability”. Environmental Science & Technology, 2002, 36, 3683–3689.
19. Martínez, C.E.; Jacobson, A.; McBride, M.B. “Thermally induced changes in metal solubility of contaminated soils is linked to mineral recrystallization and organic matter transformations”. Environmental Science & Technology, 2001, 35, 908–916.
20. Martínez, C.E.; McBride, M.B. “Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn coprecipitates in Fe oxide formed at different pH: aging effects on metal solubility and extractability by citrate”. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2001, 20, 122–126.
21. McBride, M.; Martínez, C.E. “Copper phytotoxicity in a contaminated soil: remediation tests with adsorptive materials”. Environmental Science & Technology, 2000, 34, 4386–4391.
22. Martínez, C.E.; McBride, M.B. “Aging of coprecipitated Cu in alumina: changes in structural location, chemical form, and solubility”. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2000, 64, 1729–1736.
23. McBride, M.; Martínez, C.E.; Topp, E.; Evans, L. “Trace metal solubility and speciation in a calcareous soil 18 years after no-till sludge application”. Soil Science, 2000, 165, 646–656.
24. Sauvé, S.; Martínez, C.E.; McBride, M.B.; Hendershot, W. “Adsorption of free lead (Pb²⁺) by pedogenic oxides, ferrihydrite, and leaf compost”. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 2000, 64, 595–599.
25. Martínez, C.E.; Motto, H.L. “Solubility of lead, zinc, and copper added to mineral soils“1;. Environmental Pollution, 2000, 107, 153–158.
26. Martínez, C.E.; Sauvé, S.; Jacobson, A.; McBride, M.B. “Thermally induced release of adsorbed Pb upon aging ferrihydrite and soil oxides”. Environmental Science & Technology, 1999, 33, 2016–2020.
27. Martínez, C.E.; McBride, M.B. “Dissolved and labile concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in aged ferrihydrite-organic matter systems”. Environmental Science & Technology, 1999, 33, 745–750.
28. McBride, M.B.; Martínez, C.E.; Sauvé, S. “Copper (II) activity in aged suspensions of goethite and organic matter”. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 1998, 62, 1542–1548.
29. Martínez, C.E.; McBride, M.B. “Coprecipitates of heavy metals in iron oxides: Solid phase transformation and metal solubility after aging and thermal treatment”. Clays and Clay Minerals, 1998, 46, 537–545.
30. Martínez, C.E.; McBride, M.B. “Solubility of Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Zn²⁺ in aged coprecipitates with amorphous iron hydroxides”. Environmental Science & Technology, 1998, 32, 743–748.
31. Martínez, C.E.; Kleinschmidt, A.W.; Tabatabai, M.A. “Sulfate adsorption by soils: effect of low-molecular-weight organic acids”. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 1998, 26, 157–163.
32. Martínez, C.E.; Tabatabai, M.A. “Decomposition of biotechnology by-products in soils”. Journal of Environmental Quality, 1997, 26, 625–632.