Dr. Linduo Zhao joined the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) in 2018 as a biogeochemist. Her previous research includes iron redox process in clay minerals, biogeochemical transformation of mercury in environmental media, and bioremediation/biodegradation of heavy metal/organic contaminants. Her current research focused on recovery of rare earth elements, and biogeochemical transformations and microbial community functions at critical interface.

Illinois Experts Profile

• Advanced Characterization of Wastewaters with a Focus on the Environment & Economics. 2024-2027. Co-PI. Funding agency: US DOE
• Identifying Microplastics in St Louis City and County Drinking Water. 2021-2024. Co-PI. Funding agency: Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper.
• Surface Modified Fly Ash for Value Added Products SuMo Fly Ash. 2021-2023. Co-PI. Funding agency: US DOE.
• Profiling of microbial volatile organic compounds and its potential application in fungal species and building substrate identification. 2020. PI. Funding agency: US Army CERL. 
• Improving the Productivity and Performance of Large Scale Integrated Algal Systems for Wastewater Treatment and Biofuel Production. 2019-2024. Co-PI. Funding agency: US DOE.

• Zhao, L*., Zaborowski, E., Bordoloi, S., Rajagopalan, N., Sharma, B.K., Baroi, C., Xing, W. and Zhang, L., (2024). Characterization of novel polysulfide polymer coated fly ash and its application in mitigating diffusion of contaminants. Environmental Pollution, 347, p.123706.
  
• Zhao, L.*, Scott, J.W. and Prada, A.F., (2023). From Micro-Plastic to Nano-Plastic in Wastewater: A Study of Their Potentials to Impact Biogeochemical Processes Using Electron Microscope. Microscopy and Microanalysis 29 (Supplement_1), 1239-1240
  
• Zhao L.*, Shao H., Panno V. S., Kelly R. W., & et al. (2022) The microbial community in saline and mineral springs within the Illinois Basin. Environmental Microbiology. 
• Dong H., Huang L., Zhao L., Zeng Q., & et al. (2022) A critical review of mineral–microbe interaction and co-evolution: mechanisms and applications. National science review. 9 (10), nwac128
• Scott W. J., Turner A, Prada F. A., Zhao, L.. (2021) Heterogeneous weathering of polypropylene in the marine environment. . Science of the Total Environment. 812, 15, 152308
• Johnson N., Gedalanga P., Zhao, L., & et al. (2020) Cometabolic biotransformation of 1, 4-dioxane in mixtures with hexavalent chromium using attached and planktonic bacteria. Science of the Total Environment. 706 (1).
• Zhao, L., Li, Y., & et al. (2019) Mercury adsorption on minerals and its effect on microbial methylation. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry. 3, 7, 1338-1345.
• Zhang, L., Wu, S., Zhao, L., & et al. (2019) Mercury Sorption and Desorption on Organo-Mineral Particulates as a Source for Microbial Methylation. Environmental Science & Technology. 53, 5, 2426-2433.
• Zhao, L., Chen, H., Lu X., & et al. (2017) Contrasting Effects of Dissolved Organic Matter on Mercury Methylation by G. sulfurreducens PCA and D. desulfuricans ND132. Environmental Science & Technology. 51 (18), 10468-10475.
• Lu, X, Gu, W., Zhao, L., & et al. (2017) Methylmercury uptake and degradation by methanotrophs. Science Advances. 3 (5), e1700041.
• Zhao, L., Dong, H., & et al. (2017) Coupling of Fe(II) oxidation in illite with nitrate reduction and its role in clay mineral transformation. Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta. 200, 353-366.
• Liu, Y., Lu, X., Zhao, L.; & et al. (2016) Effects of Cellular Sorption on Mercury Bioavailability and Methylmercury Production by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ND132. Environmental Science & Technology. 50 (24), 13335-13341.
• Lu, X.; Liu, Y.; Josh, A.; Zhao, L.; & et al. (2016) Anaerobic Mercury Methylation and Demethylation by Geobacter bemidjensis Bem. Environmental Science & Technology. 50, 4366–4373.
• Zhao, L., Dong, H., & et al. (2015) Biological redox cycling of iron in nontronite and its potential application in nitrate removal. Environmental Science & Technology. 49 (9), 5493–5501

• Ph.D. in Geomicrobiology (2015), Miami University (U.S.)

• Post-doctoral Research Associated at Oak Ridge National Lab

•    Impacts of micro/nano-plastic on biogeochemical cycles

•    Development of bioaugmentation strategy to enhance algal productivity

•    Biogeochemical controls of saline springs of Illinois Basin                                                    

•    Coal ash pollution prevention

•    Profiling of microbial volatile organic compounds and its potential application in fungal species identification

•    Geochemical and biochemical mechanisms controlling mercury transformation in the environment

• In Situ biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane: effects of metals and chlorinated solvent co-contaminants  

•    Fe(II) oxidation in smectite and illite and its significance in environments and clay transformation