Out Lab explores geochemical reactions in environmental and energy-related systems and examines their impacts on porous media. Currently we are working on three research directions: (1) Water-rock interactions in geotechnical systems; (2) Nucleation and precipitation of minerals; and (3) Geochemistry in environmental remediation.
People do a lot to the Earth crust beneath our feet. Wells are drilled for gas and oil production, geothermal power generation, gas storage, and nuclear waste disposal. During geotechnological operations, water-rock interactions can occur and alter mechanical and hydrological properties of porous media. In this Theme, we focus on these water-rock interactions through chemical and biochemical pathways. Systems of our interest include underground hydrogen storage, geologic carbon storage, and enhanced geothermal systems.
Minerals can dissolve into water or precipitate from water. In soil and rocks, mineral dissolution and precipitation change the flow paths of water or other fluids. We explore how minerals dissolve and precipitate under specific conditions. Specifically, we care about two stages of precipitation, the nucleation stage where nanoscale solid phases are formed, and the growth stage where these particles become macroscopic. Several minerals we are interested in include: (1) barite (BaSO4), a common mineral scale in geothermal systems; (2) lithium carbonate (Li2CO3), a mineral form of critical mineral lithium; and (3) Ferrous carbonate (FeCO3) relevant to carbon sequestration.
In the soil we step on, there are invisible activities controlling the form and migration of contaminants and nutrients. On the Long Island, groundwater and soil have witnessed a surge in population and the resulting increase of nitrogen, phosphorus, and PFAS, together with heavy metals from industrial activities. We seek geochemical tools to remediate soil and water, especially through mineral precipitation. For example, we try to introduce construction wastes to nitrogen removing biofilters (NRBs) and reactive permeable barriers (RPBs) to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous levels.