Tuesday April 22, 2025 – Suchana Shamsunnahar, Ph.D

Suchana Shamsunnahar, PhD

NSERC postdoctoral fellow
Biocolloids and Surfaces Laboratory
McGill University

 

 

 

 

 

Compound Specific Isotope Analysis for Understanding Reaction Mechanisms and In Situ Fate of Emerging Contaminants 

 

Abstract

Human activities release thousands of unregulated and potentially toxic emerging organic contaminants into the environment, posing significant risks to human and ecosystem health. Understanding the environmental fate of these contaminants using conventional concentrationbased approaches is challenging as transfer processes (e.g., sorption) and transformation processes (e.g., biodegradation) can simultaneously influence concentrations. In this seminar, I will introduce compound specific isotope analysis (CSIA), a powerful analytical technique that
can provide direct evidence of in situ contaminant transformation in complex environmental systems by measuring stable isotope signatures. While CSIA is well-established for traditional groundwater contaminants, its application to emerging contaminants in complex surface water
systems presents unique analytical challenges. I will explore these challenges and demonstrate how multi-element CSIA, integrated with complementary advanced analytical tools, can elucidate reaction mechanisms for model emerging contaminants. Finally, I will highlight a
novel application of CSIA to identify and quantify the in situ transformation of agrochemical feedstocks in engineered nature-based systems.

 

Biosketch

Shamsunnahar Suchana received her PhD in environmental engineering from the University of Toronto. Her doctoral work focused on developing advanced analytical techniques, specifically compound specific isotope analysis, to assess the fate of emerging industrial chemicals in
complex aquatic matrices. She then completed a one-year postdoctoral training at the same institution, where she applied these techniques to understand the in situ fate of emerging contaminants in passive nature-based treatment systems, such as constructed wetlands and
bioretention cells. Currently, she is an NSERC postdoctoral fellow at McGill University, focusing on understanding the environmental fate of conventional and biodegradable agroplastics. In Spring 2026, she will join the University of South Carolina, USA, as a tenuretrack assistant professor in the Division of Environmental and Analytical Chemistry.

Date
Date(s) - April 22, 2025
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Emplacement / Location
Université de Montréal - Campus MIL (Beer and pizza at 18h, conference at 19h in A-4502)

Groupe de discussion en spectrométrie de masse de Montréal (GDSMM)

Le groupe de discussion sur la spectrométrie de masse de Montréal (GDSMM) est un organisme à but non lucratif qui offre un forum favorisant les interactions locales, nationales et internationales entre les scientifiques oeuvrant en spectrométrie de masse. Le GDSMM organise des séminaires scientifiques et des forums de discussion présentant les derniers développements en recherche fondamentale et appliquée en spectrométrie de masse. Une réunion annuelle du GDSMM qui regroupe les étudiants et les post-doctorants a lieu à Montréal chaque printemps et offre une opportunité unique de réseautage en plus d’accroitre la visibilité et la sensibilisation aux contributions locales en spectrométrie de masse.

Montreal mass spectrometry discussion group (MMSDG)

The Montreal mass spectrometry discussion group (MMSDG) is a not-for-profit organization that provides a forum to promote local, national and international interactions among scientists involved in mass spectrometry. MMSDG sponsors scientific seminars and forums to present the latest developments in basic and applied research in mass spectrometry. An annual MMSDG meeting that regroups students and postdoc is held every spring in Montreal, and provide a unique networking opportunity to participants and enhance the visibility and awareness of local contributions in mass spectrometry.