Yue Gao

Prof. Dr. Yue Gao is an environmental chemist at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, specializing in trace metal biogeochemistry and speciation in aquatic systems. Their work pioneers the application of DET/DGT (Diffusive Equilibrium/Gradients in Thin Films) techniques for mercury and platinum-group metal analysis in waters, sediments, and biological samples.

• Developed advanced passive sampling methods for organic compounds and metals
• Key projects include GROW (wastewater reuse) and SRP68 (4.5 billion years of environmental change)
• Collaborates on Antarctic research, platinum-group metal characterization, and Scheldt estuary dynamics

Research focuses on metal-sediment interactions, bioavailability in rice rhizospheres, and microniche chemical processes, with significant contributions to analytical chemistry through CEM microwave digestion and ICP-MS optimization.

Scientific awards highlight innovations in

• LA-ICPMS trace element analysis (2010)
• Open ocean ultra-trace measurement (2015)
• Rice rhizosphere metal mobilization (2014)

Dr. Gao supervises students in trace metal geochemistry, passive sampling techniques, and estuarine pollution studies, with active grants from NSFC and SRP-Onderzoekszwaartepunt.