Daniel Tunega

Priv.Doz.Dr. Daniel Tunega is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Soil Research within the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). His research focuses on molecular-scale interactions between environmental pollutants and soil components, with a particular emphasis on clay minerals and iron-based nanoparticles.

• Principal Investigator on projects funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
• Active in interdisciplinary research combining soil science, computational chemistry, and environmental engineering

Research Interests include:
Theoretical modeling of:

• Adsorption mechanisms of hydrophobic organic chemicals on mineral surfaces
• Reductive dechlorination processes using modified nanomaterials
• Mechanical properties of clay minerals and hybrids
• Wettability and surface interactions in soil systems
• Environmental fate of persistent pollutants
• Geochemical reaction pathways

His publication portfolio demonstrates expertise in Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, and experimental validation through collaborations. Key themes across his 2023-2025 publications include:

• Pollutant adsorption on modified clays
• Nanoparticle-mediated contaminant degradation
• Soil mineral-water interactions
• Organic-inorganic composite materials

Scientific Presentations reveal continuous engagement with international conferences like Goldschmidt, Euroclay, EGU General Assembly, and World Congress of Soil Science, focusing on:

• Mechanistic soil pollution remediation
• Molecular-scale interface analysis
• Computational environmental chemistry