The fifth “Freshman Lecture Hall of College of Urban and Environmental Sciences”, which was organized by Peking University CUES, was kicked off as scheduled in Room 301 of No.2 teaching building on the evening of November 11. This lecture was delivered by Zhu, Dongqiang, a tenured full professor of CUES, PhD tutor, and distinguished professor of MoE Changjiang Scholars Program. Centering on the role of colloids in the environment, Professor Zhu vividly explained the marvelous nature and broad development space of colloids to the audience by giving examples about the essential role of colloids in the environmental fate and toxicity, as well as the effective treatment technologies of pollutants.

Profess Zhu speaks at the lecture

Professor Zhu started with the introduction of the research subjects and objectives of environmental chemistry, a still fast developing discipline that examines the presence, behavior, and effects of environmentally concerned chemicals, and the reduction or elimination of the harmful chemicals. In the field of environmental chemistry, colloid research represents a highly compelling area with many promising prospects for development. Professor Zhu introduced the significance of a variety of natural and engineered colloidal particles through discussing their surface interaction mechanism with organic pollutants and heavy metal ions investigated by integrated batch and spectroscopic techniques.

Then, Professor Zhu provided a more thorough explanation of colloid research in environmental chemistry. For instance, the cation–? bonding can enhance the distribution of PAHs on the surface of clay, phospholipids, and bacterial colloids. The students benefited a lot from the interesting presentation and was greatly inspired by Professor Zhu, although their current knowledge level may not be high enough to deal with such complicated scientific mode. Subsequently, Professor Zhu explained a wide range of interdisciplinary investigation of natural colloids, such as the reduction reaction of heavy metal ions and nitroaromatic compounds by microbial extracellular polymer and the associated biological and toxicological effects. The wide environmental application and special nature of colloids triggered the students’ interests in this amazing science subject. Professor Zhu went on to explain the convenience that has been and will be brought by many new nanotechnologies to real life, such as effective removal of heavy metals by functionalized magnetic nanomaterials, as well as the high efficiency of bactericide that can penetrate through the extracellular defense barrier, making the students marveled at the swift development and rapid application of nanotechnologies.

In the Q&A session at the end of the lecture, students enthusiastically asked questions while Professor Zhu patiently answered them with modesty. Both his extensive academic knowledge and humble attitude towards others won heartfelt respect and warm applause from the students.