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School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences

The School of Marine and Atmospheric SciencesPeopleSoMAS PeopleQingzhi Zhu

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Office: Discovery Hall 105

Phone: 631-632-8747



Qingzhi Zhu

Associate Professor

Education:

Ph.D.1997

- Xiamen University

Research Topics:

Chem-/Bio- Sensors, Marine Biogeochemistry, Trace Elements, Environmental Analytical Chemistry

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  • Bio/Research

    Bio/Research

    My research focuses on the development of bio/chemical sensors for in-situ studying elemental cycling and biogeochemical reaction dynamics in the marine sediments. A major theme in my research is to understand the spatial and temporal distributions and dynamics of solutes and bioactive metals associated with the benthic infaunal community, and to conceptualize heterogeneous biogeochemical transport – reaction processes in bioturbated deposits. The tools and techniques to multi-dimensionally measure solutes and trace elements in natural sediment do not exist, so the development of new methodology is an important part of my research.

    One part of my research is to develop unique planar optical sensors and to quantitatively relate multidimensional patterns in sediment composition, for example, pore water solute or solid phase distributions and dynamics, to specific biogeochemical reaction rates and material fluxes by using the sensors. Compositional changes with depth in deposits are usually assumed steady and to occur in an overall average vertical progression. Significant heterogeneity and complex three dimensional reaction patterns over millimeter to meter scales can result, however, from the activities of bottom dwelling fauna. High resolution quantification of the multi-dimensional distributions of pore water solutes are thus essential for fundamental understanding of chemical diagenesis and elemental cycling in surficial sediments. Because the bioturbated zone in organic-rich surficial sediments is typically characterized by intense and complex coupling between multiple redox reactions associated with O2, H+, CO2, Mn(II), Fe(II), S(II-), nitrate, and exoenzyme. Thus, we are particularly interested in solutes consumed or generated by these reactions. My group and I have been developing 2-D optical sensors for these parameters and studying mechanisms of element transport – reaction processes in marine deposites.

    Another important research activity in my lab is to study the biogeochemical cycling of micronutrient vitamins in marine system. Vitamins are naturally-occurring trace organic compounds essential for biological growth and functioning. Vitamin B12, for example, is a cobalt-containing coenzyme specifically required by most marine phytoplankton and is important in the regulation of primary production. With funding from NSF, we have been developing sensitive and specific ELISA methods for B12 analysis and investigating B12 potential source, distribution and transport in marine system. My group and I are current studying ultra-sensitive and specific biosensors for in-situ measurement of vitamin B12 in ocean and investigating B12 biogeochemical cycling and the transport – reaction processes controlling B12 behavior in sedimentary deposits and overlying water.

    I am also interested in the monitoring and solution of practical environmental problems arising from metal and metalloid contaminants in estuarine and coastal systems, such as the distribution, speciation and removal of heavy metals. My laboratory has been investigating the distributions of heavy metals (such as Pb, V, Cd, Cr) around plant roots and the characteristics of metal transport into the root and spatial accumulation in the rhizophere using synchrotron radiation and ICPMS techniques. The Trace Element Laboratory has a range of facilities available for the relating research including a 400 sq. ft. class-100 trace metal clean laboratory, a Finnigan MAT Element 2 ICP-MS, a Perkin Elmer GFF-AAS and a HPLC.

  • Publications

    Publications

    L.C. Herbert, Q. Zhu, A.B. Michaud, K. Laufer-Meiser, C.K. Jones, N. Riedinger, Z.S. Stooksbury, R.C. Aller, B.B Jørgensen, L.M. Wehrmann. Benthic iron flux influenced by climate-sensitive interplay between organic carbon availability and sedimentation rate in Arctic fjords. Limnol. Oceanogr. 9999 (2021) 1–19.

    Zhu Q, Cochran JK, Heilbrun C, Yin H, Feng H, Tamborski JJ, Fitzgerald P and Cong W. Small-Scale Geochemical Heterogeneities and Seasonal Variation of Iron and Sulfide in Salt Marshes Revealed by Two-Dimensional Sensors. Front. Earth Sci. 9 (2021) 653698

    H. Yin, R.C. Aller, Q. Zhu, J.Y. Aller. Biogenic structures and cable bacteria interactions: redox domain residence times 1 and the generation of complex pH distributions. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 669 (2021) 51–63

    H. Yin, R.C. Aller, Q. Zhu, J.Y. Aller. The dynamics of cable bacteria colonization in surface sediments: a 2D view. Scientific Reports 11 (2021) 7167.

    Y. Qian, C. Cheng, H. Feng, Z. Hong, Q. Zhu, M. Kolenčíka, X. Chang. Assessment of metal mobility in sediment, commercial fish accumulation and impact on human health risk in a large shallow plateau lake in southwest of China. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 194 (2020) 110346.

    R. Shi, S. Xu, Z. Qi, Q. Zhu, H. Huang, and F. Weber. Influence of suspended mariculture on vertical distribution profiles of bacteria in sediment from Daya Bay, Southern China. Marine Pollution Bulletin 146 (2019) 816–826.

    R.C. Aller, J. Y. Aller, Q. Zhu, C. Heilbrun, I. Klingensmith, A. Kaushik, Worm tubes as conduits for the electrogenic microbial grid in marine sediments. Sci. Adv. 5 (2019) eaaw3651.

    C. Li, S. Ding, L. Yang, Q. Zhu, M. Chen, D. CW Tsang, G. Cai, C. Feng, Y. Wang, C. Zhang. Planar optode: A two-dimensional imaging technique for studying spatial temporal dynamics of solutes in sediment and soil. Earth-Science Reviews 197 (2019) 102916.

    Y. Qian, C. Cheng, K. Drouillard, Q. Zhu, H. Feng, S. He, Y. Fang, S. Qiao, M. Kolenčíka, X. Chang. Bioaccumulation and growth characteristics of Vallisneria natans (Lour.) Hara after chronic exposure to metal-contaminated sediments. Environ. Sci. and Pollut. Res. 26 (2019) 20510–20519.

    Q. Zhu. In Situ Planar Optical Sensors for Sediment Diagenesis Study. In Cochran, J.K; Bokuniewicz, J. H., Yager, L. P. (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences, 3rd Edition. 2019, vol. 4, pp. 147-156, Elsevier. ISBN: 978-0-12-813081-0.

    A.R.J. David and Q. Zhu. Wet Chemical Analyzers. In Cochran, J. K.; Bokuniewicz, J.H.; Yager, L.P. (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences, 3rd Edition. 2019, vol. 5, pp. 230-236, Elsevier. ISBN: 978-0-12-813081-0.

    H. Feng, Y. Qian, J. K. Cochran, Q. Zhu, C. Heilbrun, L. Li, W. Hu, H. Yan, X. Huang, M. Ge, E. Nazareski, Y.S. Chu, S. Yoo, X. Zhang, C.J. Liu. Seasonal differences in trace element concentrations and distribution in Spartina alterniflora root tissue. Chemosphere 204 (2018) 359-370.

    J. Tamborski, K. Cochran, C. Heilbrun, P. Rafferty, P. Fitzgerald, Q. Zhu, C. Salazar. Investigation of pore water residence times and drainage velocities in salt marshes using short-lived radium isotopes. Mar. Chem. 196 (2017) 107-115.

    H. Yin, Q. Zhu and R.C. Aller. An irreversible optical sensor for multi-dimensional measurements of sedimentary H2S. Mar. Chem. 195 (2017)143-152.

    Y. Zeng, H. Walker, Q. Zhu, Reduction of nitrate by NaY zeolite supported Fe, Cu/Fe and Mn/Fe nanoparticles. J. Hazardous Materials 324 (2017) 605-616.

    H. Feng, Y. Qian, J. K. Cochran, Q. Zhu, W. Hu, H. Yan, L. Li, X. Huang, Y.S. Chu, H. Liu, S. Yoo & C. Liu. Nanoscale measurement of trace element distributions in Spartina alterniflora root tissue during dormancy, Scientific Reports 7 (2017) 40420

    Y. Qian, H. Feng, F.J. Gallagher, Q. Zhu, M. Wu, C.-J. Liu, K.W. Jones and R.V. Tappero. Synchrotron study of metal localization in Typha latifolia L. root sections. J. Synchrotron Radiat 6 (2015) 1459-68.

    Y. Qian, F.J. Gallagher, H. Feng, M. Wu, Q. Zhu. Vanadium uptake and translocation in dominant plant species on an urban coastal brownfield site. Science of the Total Environment 476-477 (2014) 696-704.

    Z. Cao, Q. Zhu, R.C. Aller and J.Y. Aller. Seasonal, 2-D sedimentary extracellular enzyme activities and controlling processes in Great Peconic Bay, Long Island. J. Mar. Res. 71 (2013) 399-423.

    Q. Zhu and R.C. Aller, Planar fluorescence sensors for two-dimensional measurements of H2S distributions and dynamics in sedimentary deposits. Mar. Chem. 157 (2013) 49-58.

    Z. Liu, J. Liu, Q. Zhu, and W. Wu. The weathering of oil after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: Insights from chemical compositions of the oil from the sea surface, salt marshes, and sediments. Environmental Research Letters 7 (2012) 035302.

    Q. Zhu and R.C. Aller. Two-dimensional dissolved ferrous iron distributions in marine sediments as revealed by a novel planar optical sensor. Mar. Chem. 136-137 (2012) 14-23.
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