Dr Stuart Cairns

Lecturer, Geography

s.l.cairns@swansea.ac.uk

Basic Welsh Speaker

Academic Office - 246
Second Floor
Wallace Building
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

About

Dr Stuart Cairns is an environmental scientist interested in the remediation of contaminated freshwater. His research focuses on the use of natural materials, in particular carbonaceous sorbents such as biochar, to remove pollutants including metals, microplastics, and nutrients from freshwater environments.

Areas Of Expertise

Geochemistry
Geochemistry
Biochar
Phytoremediation
Water remediation
Hydrology
Micro and nano plastic contamination
Metal contamination
Thermal imaging

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

Stuart teaches a variety of physical geography modules, including foundation physical and environmental geography, geographical skills, dissertation preparation skills, and geographical methods and data analysis.

Publications

Research Highlights

Cairns, S., Meza Rojas, D., Holliman, P., & Robertson, I. (2024). Interactions Between Biochar and Nano(Micro)Plastics in the Remediation of Aqueous Media. International Journal of Environmental Research, 18(5), 87
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-024-00635-0, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67173
Cairns, S., Cairns, S., Chaudhuri, S., Sigmund, G., Robertson, I., Hawkins, T., Dunlop, T., & Hofmann, T. (2021). Wood ash amended biochar for the removal of lead, copper, zinc and cadmium from aqueous solution. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 24, 101961
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.101961, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa58004
Cairns, S., Cairns, S., Robertson, I., Sigmund, G., & Street-Perrott, A. (2020). The removal of lead, copper, zinc and cadmium from aqueous solution by biochar and amended biochars. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27, 21702-21715.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08706-3, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53988
Cairns, S., CAIRNS, S., Todd, A., Robertson, I., Byrne, P., & Dunlop, T. (2022). Treatment of mine water for the fast removal of zinc and lead by wood ash amended biochar. Environmental Science: Advances, 1, 506-516.
https://doi.org/10.1039/d2va00085g, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60891
Cairns, S., Robertson, I., Holliman, P., & Street-Perrott, A. (n.d.) Treatments of wood ash amended biochar to reduce nutrient leaching and immobilise lead, copper, zinc and cadmium in aqueous solution: column experiments. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 8(6), 1277-1286.
https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ew00962a, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67609
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d1ew00962a
Cairns, S., CAIRNS, S., Todd, A., Robertson, I., & Byrne, P. (2023). Metals Removal from Acid Mine Water by Wood-Ash Amended Biochar. In IMWA 2022 – Reconnect (pp. 33-38). International Mine Water Association.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63044
https://www.imwa.info/docs/imwa_2022/IMWA2022_Cairns_33.pdf
Cairns, S., CAIRNS, S., Sigmund, G., Robertson, I., & Haine, R. (2022). Engineered Biochar as Adsorbent for the Removal of Contaminants from Aqueous Medium. Engineered Biochar (pp. 353-381). Springer Nature Singapore
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2488-0_19, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60804

All Research

Journal Articles

Cairns, S., Meza Rojas, D., Holliman, P., & Robertson, I. (2024). Interactions Between Biochar and Nano(Micro)Plastics in the Remediation of Aqueous Media. International Journal of Environmental Research, 18(5), 87
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-024-00635-0, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67173
Cairns, S., CAIRNS, S., Todd, A., Robertson, I., Byrne, P., & Dunlop, T. (2022). Treatment of mine water for the fast removal of zinc and lead by wood ash amended biochar. Environmental Science: Advances, 1, 506-516.
https://doi.org/10.1039/d2va00085g, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60891
Cairns, S., Cairns, S., Chaudhuri, S., Sigmund, G., Robertson, I., Hawkins, T., Dunlop, T., & Hofmann, T. (2021). Wood ash amended biochar for the removal of lead, copper, zinc and cadmium from aqueous solution. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 24, 101961
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.101961, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa58004
Cairns, S., Cairns, S., Robertson, I., Sigmund, G., & Street-Perrott, A. (2020). The removal of lead, copper, zinc and cadmium from aqueous solution by biochar and amended biochars. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27, 21702-21715.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08706-3, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53988
Cairns, S., Robertson, I., Holliman, P., & Street-Perrott, A. (n.d.) Treatments of wood ash amended biochar to reduce nutrient leaching and immobilise lead, copper, zinc and cadmium in aqueous solution: column experiments. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 8(6), 1277-1286.
https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ew00962a, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67609
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d1ew00962a

Book Chapters

Cairns, S., CAIRNS, S., Sigmund, G., Robertson, I., & Haine, R. (2022). Engineered Biochar as Adsorbent for the Removal of Contaminants from Aqueous Medium. Engineered Biochar (pp. 353-381). Springer Nature Singapore
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2488-0_19, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60804

Conference Contributions

Cairns, S., CAIRNS, S., Todd, A., Robertson, I., & Byrne, P. (2023). Metals Removal from Acid Mine Water by Wood-Ash Amended Biochar. In IMWA 2022 – Reconnect (pp. 33-38). International Mine Water Association.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63044
https://www.imwa.info/docs/imwa_2022/IMWA2022_Cairns_33.pdf

Taught Modules

EG-283 Mechanical Deformation in Structural Materials

Following on from the first year module "Mechanical Properties" this module provides further detail about the deformation characteristics of a wide range of engineering materials. The course aims to develop the understanding of topics taught in the first year module by application to high performance materials such as titanium and nickel. Further understanding of deformation and damage mechanisms is gained through targeted units on elasticity, plasticity, alloy strengthening, mechanics of materials, fatigue and creep. The knowledge provided then allows for topics such as methods of mechanical testing and additive layer manufacturing. The module then seeks to draw these topics together by considering application to three main material classes, metals, ceramics and composites.
GE-007 Foundation Physical and Environmental Geography

The module considers the impacts of physical geography processes on human habitation and how humans might mitigate against the effects of nature's extreme events. It also examines the complex issues surrounding human impacts on the landscape. Foundation Physical & Environmental Geography will pave the way for students to study Geography at Level 4 (Year 1). This module complements topics taught in the Foundation Human Geography module (GE-008), to give an understanding of physical geography and the environment.
GEG100 Geographical skills

The aim of this module is to introduce the participants to essential geographical skills. These invaluable skills will become enhanced throughout their degree at Swansea University. Participants should be able to apply these techniques in a wide variety of environments and contexts. Skills covered include essay writing, data analysis and map making
GEG277 Geographical Methods and Data Analysis

This core 20-credit module introduces a variety of physical and human geography methods, along with data analysis. The module builds upon student knowledge and covers research design, data collection and data analysis. Students are introduced to a range of lab and field techniques in physical and / or human geography along with statistical analysis. They gain experience in describing, interpreting and presenting the results.
GEG278 Dissertation Preparation Skills

This module builds upon student knowledge of social research methods and environmental methods (delivered in GEG277) through to the formulation of a dissertation proposal. The module focuses on key dissertation planning and preparation skills.

Key Grants and Projects

Remediation of plastic polluted water using biochar and steel industry waste 2024 - 2027

, with Dr Iain Robertson, Prof Peter Holliman, £211,929

Dr Stuart Cairns

Email address

Welsh language proficiency

About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Book Chapters

Conference Contributions

Taught Modules

EG-283 Mechanical Deformation in Structural Materials

GE-007 Foundation Physical and Environmental Geography

GEG100 Geographical skills

GEG277 Geographical Methods and Data Analysis

GEG278 Dissertation Preparation Skills

Key Grants and Projects

Remediation of plastic polluted water using biochar and steel industry waste 2024 - 2027