Program Overview

PhD course on Speciation and Bioavailability of Metals, Organics and Nanoparticles

Course Description

This course focuses on the speciation and bioavailability of metal complex species, organic compounds, and nanoparticles in aqueous environments. The course program will cover the analytical and physical chemistry of metal ions in complexing aqueous environments and the bioavailabilities of different species. Due attention will also be given to the speciation and bioavailability of organic compounds. Modern analytical speciation techniques will be discussed in methodological detail.

Learning Goals

To be announced.

General Information

Registration

Early registration is strongly recommended.

Target Group

• PhD students and Postdocs who are entering the field or want to deepen their knowledge on the subject.

Course Duration

5 days

Credit Points

2 ECTS

Language

English

Fee

• WIMEK PhDs with TSP: € 750
• WIMEK Postdocs: € 850

The course fee includes course material, daily lunch, coffee, and tea. The fee does not include accommodation, breakfast, or dinner.

Cancellation Conditions

Also, note that when there are not enough participants, we can cancel the course. We will inform you if this is the case a week after the early bird deadline. Please take this into account when arranging your trip to the course.

Organising Lecturer

Raewyn M. Town, Prof., University of Antwerpen

Course Details

• Date: Mon 15 June 2026 until Fri 19 June 2026
• Venue: Antwerpen, Belgium
• Organised by: Wageningen Institute for Environment and Climate Research WIMEK

The course program will focus on the analytical and physical chemistry of metal ions in complexing aqueous environments and the bioavailabilities of different species. Due attention will also be given to the speciation and bioavailability of organic compounds. Modern analytical speciation techniques such as DGT, PLM, DMT, stripping voltammetries, ligand exchange methods, SPME, radiotracer techniques, etc. will be discussed in methodological detail. The thermodynamic and kinetic backgrounds of metal ion binding by simple ligands, macromolecular complexing agents, colloids, and nanoparticles will be a key topic. Particular attention will be paid to the speciation and physicochemical characterization of nanoparticles, including plastic particles, as well as the bioavailability of nanoparticulate chemical species. Latest developments in equilibrium speciation codes will be presented and critically tested in interactive exercises. Dynamic features of complex systems, including their practical lability characteristics, will be discussed on the basis of the underlying reaction kinetics and the pertinent transport conditions. Rates of biomembrane transfer of chemical species will be evaluated in terms of their physicochemical properties, and illustrated by a couple of case studies on metal uptake by organisms. Electrostatic features of colloids and (bio)surfaces are discussed in detail. Participants are welcome to suggest topical issues that merit attention.

The program is concluded by a session for which participants are invited to present their own research topics within the framework of subjects discussed in the course. The various scheduled sessions are led by a small international team of specialists, including Ronny Blust, Jérôme F. L. Duval, Paulo Pinheiro, Walter Schenkeveld, and Raewyn M. Town. As much as possible, the lectures will be of an interactive nature.