Welcome to SPECS

Technology-critical elements in which the platinum group elements (PGE) like palladium (Pd) and ruthenium (Ru) are included, have a low crustal abundance (<0.5 ng/g) but are extensively exploited and used in various technology-based industries. An emerging environmental concern is attributed to Pd due to the shift toward its use in catalysts. In addition, both Pd and Ru are promising antineoplastic candidates, thereby increasing future environmental risks. Their biogeochemistry remains poorly understood and adequate environmental risk assessment in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is still lacking, mainly owing to unsuitable analytical methods to cope with their ultra-trace levels. Aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda, SPECS is a challenging interdisciplinary project outlined to (O1 and O2) upgrade and implement analytical voltammetric procedures for Pd and Ru determination in environmental matrices; and (O3) quantify their contamination levels in complex environmental matrices. The SPECiation analysis Schemes of platinum-group elements in environmental compartments through the combination of improved analytical methodologies will (O4) combine Adsorptive Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry (AdCSV), Diffusive Gradients in Thin films (DGT), and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).

The hypothesis of the project to improve voltammetric procedures is based on the reactivity and catalytic properties of Pd and Ru, for which specific ligands form complexes with the metals enabling their adsorption on the electrode surface and intensifying the catalytic current for hydrogen as a response to the metal concentration. One of the main goals of SPECS is screening several electrolyte media, alternative electrodes and distinct experimental conditions to deliver an interference-free AdCSV procedure for the analysis of Pd and Ru. 

Besides, it is hypothesized that Pd and Ru from anthropogenic source may be released in the environment in different forms, as already shown for Pt and Rh by the project team, which may affect their mobility, partition and bioavailability. Thus SPECS aims at establishing a new vision for Pd and Ru speciation analysis through the innovative combination of analytical methods to discerning truly soluble forms (AdCSV), labile species (DGT) and total filter-passing species which include (nano)particulate forms (ICP-MS). Speciation analysis schemes will be obtained combining different analytical methods and standard operation procedures will be provided for routine analysis using harmonized laboratory methodologies and oriented fieldwork.