A tribute to Jacques Buffle: founding father of dynamic metal speciation analysis n this special issue, Environmental Science & Technology pays Tribute to the career of Jacques Buffle, the founding father of dynamic metal speciation analysis in aquatic systems. The issue has been organized by the undersigned, with the enthusiastic guidance from the editorial staff of the journal, notably managing editor Dr. Darcy J. Gentleman and associate editor Prof. Laura Sigg. In 1969, Jacques earned a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Geneva by studying the voltammetry of iron. Subsequently, he established a research group focused on developing analytical tools for understanding the biophysical chemistry of environmental systems (Chimie Analytique et Biophysicochimie de l’Environnement, CABE). This work soon put Geneva on the map as an international center of excellence in the field. While Geneva has been Jacques’s homebase throughout his career, he traveled extensively and in particular was a long-term invited professor at INRS-Eau, University of Quebec, Canada (hosted by Andre´ Tessier), and more recently at CSIRO, Lucas Heights, Australia (as a guest of Graeme Batley). Jacques’s research has made extensive contributions to the environmental sciences, the most prominent of which is his work on the development of analytical and physicochemical methodologies for measuring and modeling trace metal speciation. He not only made existing dynamic electrochemical techniques applicable to the determination of chemical speciation in natural waters, but he also developed completely new types of in situ sensors. The latter is epitomized by the ingenious permeation liquid membrane (PLM) technique where the sensor can be tuned to detect either the free metal ion or the total labile metal fraction of a sample, or even fine-tuned to mimic metal bioavailability toward organisms (Chapter 10 in “In Situ Monitoring of Aquatic Systems”, Wiley: Chichester, 2000). This example provides a good illustration of the leading role that Jacques has played in increasing our understanding of the chemodynamic properties of metal complexes and the ensuing impact on biota in aquatic systems. Another significant component in Jacques’s body of work is his fundamental contributions to the field of environmental colloids. Indeed, his 1998 seminal paper on the topic (Environ. Sci. Technol. 1998, 32(19), 2887-2889) has largely catalyzed the bloom of this extremely active domain of environmental science and is continuing to generate
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insight in the highly topical field of nanoparticle reactivity/mobility. Jacques’s large body of original research papers and books clearly demonstrate his leadership in the fields of environmental colloids and metal speciation over the past 25 years. Indeed, his comprehensive book on “Complexation Reactions in Aquatic Systems” has been the uncontested reference book for metal speciation analysis since its appearance in 1988. Furthermore, as coeditor (with Herman P. van Leeuwen), Jacques has produced 11 volumes (to date) in the IUPAC Series on the Analytical and Physical Chemistry of Environmental Systems, a vast compendium of information ranging from theoretical concepts in metal speciation and colloid science to their applications in a wide range of environmental compartments. The scope and impact of Jacques’s legacy is reflected by the broad range of contributions in this special issue from close colleagues, many of whom are his former Ph.D. students or postdoctoral fellows. Most aspects of the articles were presented at a conference dedicated to Jacques on the Chemodynamics of Ecosystems, which was held in October 2008 at Monte Verita, Ascona (Switzerland). It was a very special event that, once again, elegantly underscored the intimate relationship between Jacques’s work and the development of environmental chemodynamics. On behalf of all of his colleagues, we thank Jacques for his stimulating contributions and collaboration, certain that he will continue to motivate our research in environmental physical chemistry through his inspiring views and insight. Herman P. van Leeuwen is an electrochemist who obtained his degree in chemistry at the State University of Utrecht (The Netherlands) in 1969. His thesis was in the field of pulse methods in electrode kinetics and his Ph.D. degree was awarded cum laude (best 5% in NL) in 1972. He then joined the Colloid Chemistry and Electrochemistry group of Professor (Hans) J. Lyklema at Wageningen October 1, 2009 / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 9 7157
University, where he became a senior lecturer in 1986. His teaching includes analytical/inorganic chemistry, electrochemistry, and environmental physical chemistry. He was appointed extraordinary professor at the University of Geneva in 2000. His current major research interests are (i) ion dynamics and electrokinetics of colloids, and (ii) dynamic speciation and bioavailability of metals in environmental systems. He has published over 200 research papers, reviews, and book chapters in these fields. He was chairman of the IUPAC commission on Fundamental Environmental Chemistry from 1995 to 1999 and chairman of the Section Electrochemistry of the Royal Dutch Chemical Society from 1993 to 2001. Together with Jacques Buffle, he edited the IUPAC Book Series on Analytical and Physical Chemistry of Environmental Systems, launched in 1992. Kevin J. Wilkinson is a professor of environmental chemistry at the University of Montreal (Canada). He earned his Ph.D. in aquatic toxicology/ chemistry from INRSEau in 1993 under the guidance of Peter G.C. Campbell and subsequently joined the research group of Jacques Buffle (University of Geneva), first as a postdoctoral fellow, then as a lecturer and senior lecturer. Recently, he was appointed as associate (2005) then full (2009) professor at University of Montreal and visiting professor at INRS-ETE (2003). His research is designed to gain a molecular level understanding of contaminant bioavailability and mobility. For example, his research group is very interested in identifying some fundamental limitations of the bioavailability models and is attempting to relate the structure of (nano)particles and their aggregates to their mobility and bioavailability. The work includes both a state-of-the-art analytical characterization (fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis) and highly specific biological effects measurements (gene/polypeptide induction using RT-QPCR, LC-MS). Recent projects are also examining the role of diffusion in biofilms and flocs and developing whole cell biosensors for novel contaminants. Professor Wilkinson is currently a member of the editorial board of Environmental Chemistry and titular member of the IUPAC Chemistry and Environment Division. He has also recently edited books on the characterization of environmental colloids
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(Wiley, 2007) and the chemistry of fractal structures and processes (Wiley, 2008). Raewyn M. Town is a professor of environmental chemistry at the University of Southern Denmark. She obtained her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and was subsequently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. She then held tenured academic posts at Massey University, New Zealand, and the Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her research interests are in the area of environmental physical/analytical chemistry with a particular focus on measurement and modeling of dynamic speciation of trace elements in aquatic environmental systems, and its relationship with the bioavailability and ecotoxicity of the relevant species. Laura Sigg has been an associate editor of ES&T since 2000. She is the head of a research group within the department of Environmental Toxicology at Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Duebendorf) and a professor in the department of Environmental Sciences of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland. She obtained a diploma in chemistry at the University of Berne, Switzerland, in 1975. She completed her Ph.D. at ETH Zurich in 1979, for which she worked at Eawag on aquatic surface chemistry. After a postdoctoral stay at the University of Go¨teborg (Sweden), she returned to Eawag as a research scientist, where she has been heading a research group since 1980. Her research interests are in the chemistry of natural waters, mostly in the cycling of trace elements, in the role of speciation for bioavailability of trace metals, and in the fate of engineered nanoparticles in natural waters.
