Research Interests

My research focuses on environmental analytical chemistry and biogeochemistry, especially on the development and application of 2-dimensional optical sensors for examination of biogeochemical heterogeneity and dynamics in the complex bioturbated zone in marine sediments. Many chemical and biological parameters such as H⁺, CO₂, O₂, and exoenzymes, etc., play key roles in environmental and biogeochemical reactions and processes. The measurements of these solutes in marine sediments with high spatial and temporal resolution are essential for conceptualizing and modeling heterogeneous biogeochemical reactions, microbial metabolism, and solute transport in bioturbated deposits.

My current work includes designing and developing various optical chemical/bio sensors for particular parameters in marine environments, and their application in lab and field measurements. I am also interested in relating this research to the monitoring and solution of practical environmental problems.

Selected Publications

Zhu, Q.Z., R.C. Aller, and Y. Fan, 2006. Two-dimensional pH distributions and dynamics in bioturbated marine sediments. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta . 70, 4933-4949.

Zhu, Q.Z., R.C. Aller, and, Y. Fan, 2006. A new ratiometric, planar fluorosensor for measuring high resolution, two-dimensional pCO₂ distributions in marine sediments. Marine Chemistry 101, 40-53

Zhu, Q.Z., R.C. Aller, and Y. Fan, 2005. High-performance planar pH fluorosensor for two-dimensional pH measurements in marine sediment and water. Environ. Sci. Technol. 39, 8906-8911.

Deng, A.P. M. Himmelsbach, Q.Z. Zhu, et al., 2003. Residue analysis of the pharmaceutical diclofenac in different water types using ELISA and GC-MS. Environ. Sci. Technol., 37, 3422-3429.

Zhu, Q.Z., P. Degelmann, R. Niessner, D. Knopp, 2002. Selective trace analysis of sulfonylurea herbicides in water and soil samples based on solid-phase extraction using a molecularly imprinted polymer. Environ. Sci. Technol., 36, 5411-5420.

Zhu, Q.Z., K. Haupt, D. Knopp, R. Niessner, 2002. Molecular Imprinting of Metsulfuron-methyl and its Binding Characteristics for Sulfonylurea Herbicides. Anal. Chim. Acta, 468, 217-227.

Yang, H. Q.Z. Zhu, H.Y. Qu, et al., 2002. Flow injection fluorescence immunoassay for gentamicin using sol-gel-derived mesoporous biomaterial. Anal. Biochem., 308, 71-76

Zhu, Q.Z., H. Yang, D. Li, Q. Chen, J.G. Xu, 2000. A novel mimetic enzymatic fluorescence immunoassay for hepatitis B surface antigen by using a thermal phase separating polymer. Analyst, 125, 2260-2263.