Janice Kenney

Research Interests

Contaminants, whether metals or organic compounds, present complex challenges in both natural and engineered environments. My research focuses on understanding how contaminants interact with natural and engineered surfaces in these systems. I use a combination of advanced analytical techniques to study these interactions at the molecular and microscale, including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), potentiometric titrations, inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP-MS and ICP-OES), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

In the environment, contaminants such as metals and pharmaceuticals often interact with minerals and microbes, altering their mobility and reactivity. I investigate these interactions to gain a deeper understanding of how contaminants move through soil and water systems, particularly in mining-impacted environments. My work also examines how the surface properties of minerals and biochars influence the sorption and transformation of metals and antibiotics. This research has direct applications in improving environmental remediation strategies and predicting contaminant behavior under various conditions.

At Laurentian University, I am establishing a research group that emphasizes hands-on learning and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students in my lab gain experience with state-of-the-art instrumentation while contributing to projects addressing critical environmental issues. I am deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and dynamic research environment where students and collaborators can work together to tackle some of today’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Publications

1. Kenney, J.P.L., Lezama-Pacheco, J., Fendorf, S., Alessi, DS., Weiss, DJ., (2023) Mechanisms of uranyl removal from aqueous solution by sandstone and volcanic rock under acidic and alkaline pH conditions, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, v645, 715-723.
2. Zhang, Y., Alessi, D.S., Chen, N., Luo, M., Hao, W., Alam, S., Flynn, S.L., Kenney, J.P.L, Konhauser,K.O., Sik Ok, Y.,  Al-Tabbaa, A., (2021) Lead (Pb) sorption to hydrophobic and hydrophilic zeolites in the presence and absence of MTBE, Journal of Hazardous Materials, v420, p126528
3. Bullen J.C., Kenney J. P. L., Fearn S., Kafizas A., Skinner S., Weiss D (2020) Improved accuracy in multicomponent surface complexation models using surface-sensitive analytical techniques: Adsorption of arsenic onto a TiO2/Fe2O3 multifunctional sorbent, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, v589, p834
4. Kenney, J.P.L., Ellis, T., Nicol, F.S., Porter, A., and Weiss, D.J., (2018) The Effect of Bacterial Growth Phase and Culture Concentration on Uranium Removal from Aqueous Solution, Chemical Geology. v 482,  pp 61-71
5. Kenney, J. P. L., Veeramani, H., and Alessi, D. S., (2019) Analytical Geomicrobiology: A Handbook of Instrumental Techniques, Cambridge University Press.