Alexandra Hakala

Dr. Alexandra Hakala

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

20Years (2007-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 January 2017 in Applied Geochemistry
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
VMVirginia Marcon
Virginia Marcon
CJCraig Joseph
Craig Joseph
KCKimberly E. Carter
Kimberly E. Carter
SHSheila W. Hedges
Sheila W. Hedges
CLChristina L. Lopano
Christina L. Lopano
AHAlexandra Hakala
Alexandra Hakala

24 November 2010 in Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ALAlessandra C. Leri
Alessandra C. Leri
AHAlexandra Hakala
Alexandra Hakala
MMMatthew A. Marcus
Matthew A. Marcus
ALAntonio Lanzirotti
Antonio Lanzirotti
CRChristopher Reddy
Christopher Reddy
SMSatish C. B. Myneni
Satish C. B. Myneni
Organobromine (Brorg) compounds, commonly recognized as persistent, toxic anthropogenic pollutants, are also produced naturally in terrestrial and marine systems. Several enzymatic and abiotic bromination mechanisms have been identified, as well as an array of natural Brorg molecules associated with various marine organisms. The fate of the carbon‐bromine functionality in the marine environment, however, remains largely unexplored. Oceanographic studies have noted an association between bromine (Br) and organic carbon (Corg) in marine sediments. Even so, there has been no direct chemical evidence that Br in the sediments exists in a stable form apart from inorganic bromide (Brinorg), which is widely presumed conservative in marine systems. To investigate the scope of natural Brorg production and its fate in the environment, we probed Br distribution and speciation in estuarine and marine sediments using in situ X‐ray spectroscopy and spectromicroscopy. We show that Brorg is ubiquitous throughout diverse sedimentary environments, occurring in correlation with Corg and metals such as Fe, Ca, and Zn. Analysis of sinking particulate carbon from the seawater column links the Brorg observed in sediments to biologically produced Brorg compounds that persist through humification of natural organic matter (NOM). Br speciation varies with sediment depth, revealing biogeochemical cycling of Br between organic and inorganic forms as part of the burial and degradation of NOM. These findings illuminate the chemistry behind the association of Br with Corg in marine sediments and cast doubt on the paradigmatic classification of Br as a conservative element in seawater systems.

3 October 2007 in Environmental Science & Technology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
AHAlexandra Hakala
Alexandra Hakala
YCYu-Ping Chin
Yu-Ping Chin
EWEric J. Weber
Eric J. Weber

5 December 2012 in Environmental Science & Technology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
AKAthanasios K. Karamalidis
Athanasios K. Karamalidis
STSharon G. Torres
Sharon G. Torres
AHAlexandra Hakala
Alexandra Hakala
HSHongbo Shao
Hongbo Shao
KCKirk J. Cantrell
Kirk J. Cantrell
SCSusan Carroll
Susan Carroll

1 January 2011 in Fuel Processing Technology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
AHAlexandra Hakala
Alexandra Hakala
WSWilliam Stanchina
William Stanchina
YSYee Soong
Yee Soong
SHSheila Hedges
Sheila Hedges

1 March 2009 in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
AHAlexandra Hakala
Alexandra Hakala
RFRyan L. Fimmen
Ryan L. Fimmen
YCYu-Ping Chin
Yu-Ping Chin
SASheela G. Agrawal
Sheela G. Agrawal
CWCollin P. Ward
Collin P. Ward