Special Issue Preface pubs.acs.org/JPCA
Chemodynamics: The Graal of Herman P. van Leeuwen environmental structures and interfacial processes. Herman’s open mind regarding complexity and unfailing faith in the fundamentals of physics, combined with a good touch of Dutch pragmatism and playful sense of humor, are major ingredients that have enabled development of a solid basis for the chemodynamics of environmental systems. Herman P. van Leeuwen’s substantial body of work is finding far-reaching applications in quantitative interpretation of metal speciation dynamics and bioavailability, such as the design of sensors to measure kinetic spectra of metal complexes or prediction of the reactivity and fate of compounds (metals and organics) in the presence of a size spectra of particles. The numerous original research papers and book chapters, documented in his publication list, demonstrate that Herman has pioneered and led these fields over the course of his career. He has published over 200 research papers, numerous reviews, and book chapters and supervised 14 doctoral theses and many postdoctoral projects. He coedits the IUPAC Book Series on Analytical and Physical Chemistry of Environmental Systems (11 volumes to date), which is a comprehensive resource of information ranging from theoretical concepts in colloid science, electrochemistry, and metal speciation, to their applications across environmental compartments. However, all of these scientific factors cannot entirely explain Herman’s influence on the scientific community, and on the young generation and privileged students who had the chance to work under his guidance. His outgoing and friendly character is renowned, with always an eagerness to help both colleagues and students. The only occasion in which a loss of patience can be expected is when the inertia of bureaucracy interferes with the pursuit of high-quality science, but this response reflects healthy and spicy expressions of Herman’s enthusiasm for ensuring intellectual integrity. This fundamental feature of his personality is greatly appreciated and respected. Overall, these key personality traits have also had a tremendous role in the propagation of new ideas and concepts across the disciplines. Indeed, in addition to playing a key role in establishing the scientific basis of environmental chemodynamics, Herman has been a major actor for the development of an international school in that field. As an example, the highly successful biennial postgraduate course in speciation and bioavailability, established in 1994, has always attracted a strong number of participants from around the world. Herman, hartelijk bedankt, jongen(sachtig) man, for your friendship, scientific collaborations, and collegial mentorship. We wish you continued success and look forward to many more years of fruitful and dynamic interactions.
This special section of The Journal of Physical Chemistry A is dedicated to Professor Herman P. van Leeuwen, Wageningen University, The Netherlands, on the occasion of his 65th birthday. Herman P. van Leeuwen earned his PhD, awarded cum laude (best 5% in The Netherlands), from the State University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, in 1972 under the guidance of Prof. Jan Sluyters. The topic of his thesis (pulse methods in electrode kinetics) was already closely linked with dynamics of physical processes at interfaces. Notable early themes in Herman’s oeuvre included the kinetic classification of metal complexes, which established the framework for generic definition of lability criteria, and mechanistic studies on reactant adsorption at electrode interfaces. Later, Herman made pioneering contributions to colloid-interface science and environmental physical chemistry. His work encompasses significant developments in the field of dielectric relaxation spectroscopy of colloids, the establishment of rigorous principles to describe the chemodynamics of metal complexes with colloidal ligands, as well as the development of fundamental concepts describing physicochemical kinetics and transports at various (bio)interfaces. Furthermore, he has founded theoretical principles that have enabled expansion of the field of electrokinetics and bipolar electrode kinetics to biological interphases, biogels, or electron (semi)conducting materials. A particular signature of Herman’s work is the development of concepts to quantify chemodynamic processes in environmental science, based upon the scientific rigor of physical chemistry. This achievement is far from obvious; there is indeed a paucity of scientists who are able and interested to adapt or develop new rigorous physical-chemistry concepts to complex © 2012 American Chemical Society
Raewyn M. Town Jérôme F. L. Duval Jacques Buffle
Special Issue: Herman P. van Leeuwen Festschrift Published: June 28, 2012 6421
dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp301182q | J. Phys. Chem. A 2012, 116, 6421−6421
