Biography

  • PhD Environmental science (University of Manchester) - 2008-2012
  • MSc Analytical chemistry (Loughborough) - 2006
  • BSc Chemistry (SQU) - 2004

PhD project

The role of organics on the mobilization of arsenic in shallow aquifers

Supervised by:

Research interests

High levels of naturally occurring arsenic in groundwaters extensively used for drinking and irrigation by people across the world, but particularly in southern, south eastern and eastern Asia, is a problematic water contaminant. Millions of people are affected and thousands dying as a result of elevated levels of arsenic in water they consume. The mechanism by which arsenic is released into shallow reducing groundwater aquifers is a matter of intense debate. However, it is believed that microbes play a key role in this process through the reductive dissolution of arsenic bearing iron oxy(hydroxides) and the role of organic carbon in this process is extensively recognized.

My project investigates the relation between the type and bioavailability of organic matter present at depth in arsenic rich aquifer sediments and the release of arsenic from these sediments into groundwaters over a range of geological/geographic environments. The project propagates with organic geochemical analysis of sediments from arsenic contaminated and free areas collected from Cambodia, Vietnam, China and Taiwan by GC-MS.

Publications

  • Al Lawati W.M., J.S. Jean, T.R. Kulp, M.K. Lee, D.A. Polya, B. E. van Dongen. Role and nature of organic matter in the mobilization of arsenic in reducing aquifers of Southwestern Taiwan.
  • Al Lawati W.M., J.-S. Jean, T. Kulp, M.-K. Lee, D. Polya, B.E. van Dongen. 2012. Characterisation of organic matter associated with goundwater arsenic in reducing aquifers of Southwestern Taiwan. Journal of Hazardous Materials. Published online. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ j.jhazmat.2012.08.007
  • Al Lawati W.M., A. Rizoulis, E. Eiche, C. Boothman, D.A. Polya J.R. Lloyd, M. Berg, P.V. Aguilar, B.E. van Dongen. 2012. Characterisation of organic matter and microbial communities in contrasting arsenic-rich Holocene and arsenic-poor Pleistocene, Red River Delta, Vietnam. Applied Geochemistry. 27, 315-325. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ j.apgeochem.2011.09.030
  • Polya D.A., M.L. Polizzotto, S. Fendorf, L. Rodriguez-Lado, A. Hegan, M. Lawson, H.A.L. Rowland, A.K. Giri, D. Mondal, C. Sovann, W.M.M. Al Lawati, B.E. van Dongen, P. Gilbert, A. Shantz. 2010. Arsenic in Groundwaters of Cambodia. In: Water Resources and Development in Southeast Asia (Eds, K. Irvine, T. Murphy, V. Vanchan, S. Vermette). SE Asia Center. 31-56.

Presentations

  • Al Lawati W., A. Rizoulis, C. Boothman, D. A. Polya, J. R. Lloyd, E. Eiche, B. van Dongen. 2011. Organic matter (including from thermally mature source rocks) in contrasting (high arsenic) Holocene and (low arsenic) Pleistocene shallow reducing aquifers, Red river Delta, Vietnam. Geological Society of America 2011 Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, USA
  • Al Lawati W. M. M., B. E. van Dongen, D. A. Polya, J-S. Jean. 2010. Role and nature of organic matter in the mobilization of arsenic in shallow aquifers in Taiwan. 3rd International congress: Arsenic in geosphere and human diseases, Tainan, Taiwan
  • Al Lawati W. M. M., D. A. Polya, B. E. van Dongen. 2009. The effects of organics on the transformation and release of arsenic in shallow aquifers. 20th meeting of the British Organic Geochemical Society, University of Bristol

Posters

  • Al Lawati W. M. M., B. E. van Dongen, D. A. Polya, J-S. Jean, T. R. Kulp, M. Berg. 2012. The effects of organics on the transformation and release of arsenic. The 4th international congress on arsenic in the environment: Understanding the geological- medical interface of arsenic. Cairns, Australia,
  • Al Lawati W., A. Rizoulis, E. Eiche, C. Boothman, D. A. Polya, J. R. Lloyd, M. Berg, B. van Dongen. 2011. Biogeochemical controls on arsenic mobility in contrasting Holocene and Pleistocene shallow reducing aquifers, Red River Delta, Vietnam: The role of organic matter. School of Earth Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences post graduate student research conference 2010, University of Manchester
  • Al Lawati W. M. M., J-S. Jean, M-K. Lee, T. R. Kulp, M. Berg, E. Eiche, A. Rizoulis, J. R. Lloyd, D. A. Polya, B. E. van Dongen. 2011. Role and nature of organic matter in the mobilization of arsenic in shallow reducing aquifers. 25th International Meeting on Organic Geochemistry. Interlaken, Switzerland
  • Al Lawati W. M. M., A. Rizoulis, E. Eiche, C. Boothman, D. A. Polya, J. R. Lloyd, M. Berg, B. E. van Dongen. 2011. Biogeochemical controls on arsenic mobility in contrasting Holocene and Pleistocene shallow reducing aquifers, Red River Delta, Vietnam: The role of organic matter. 22nd meeting of the British Organic Geochemical Society, University of Bristol
  • Al Lawati W. M. M., B. E. van Dongen, D. A. Polya. 2010. Role and nature of organic matter in the mobilisation of arsenic in shallow reducing aquifers of Taiwan and Vietnam. School of Earth Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences post graduate student research conference, University of Manchester
  • Al Lawati W. M. M., B. E. van Dongen, D. A. Polya. 2010. Role and nature of organic matter in the mobilisation of arsenic in shallow reducing aquifers of Taiwan and Vietnam. 21st meeting of the British Organic Geochemical Society, University of Bristol

Awards

  • Postgraduate student travel bursary award 2010 by the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
  • Best poster award 2010 at the British Organic Geochemistry meeting, University of Manchester
  • PhD full scholarship by the Ministry of Manpower, Sultanate of Oman
  • MSc full scholarship by the Ministry of Manpower, Sultanate of Oman
  • Best student award by the Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University