Rufus L. Chaney obtained a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Purdue University in 1969. He has worked with USDA-Agricultural Research Service for 33 years, and is presently in the Animal Manure and By-Product Laboratory at Beltsville, MD. He has worked on risk assessment for metals in biosolids, soils, and crops, and the food-chain transfer and bioavailability of soil and crop metals to animals. During this work he invented the concept of soil metal phytoextraction, and from 1998 to 2001 participated in a CRADA research program to develop a complete commercial phytoextraction technology for soil Ni and Co which has been patented and now commercialized by the CRADA Cooperator, Viridian LLC. He has also cooperated in development of a Cd and Cd+Zn phytoextraction technology, which is highly promising for soil Cd risk remediation. His work on bioavailability of soil Pb, and treating soils with Fe-rich biosolids plus byproducts rich in adsorbent Fe and Mn has also contributed significantly to present acceptance of in situ remediation of metal contaminated soils, and using mixtures of biosolids and byproducts to restore ecosystems on previously highly phytotoxic and barren metal smelter and mining wastes (Zn, Pb, Ni).

Email address: chaneyr@ba.ars.usda.gov