Biochar is a porous and recalcitrant carbon-rich material that can be produced from various types of biomass via a process called pyrolysis. Recent advance in biochar make it possible to turn agricultural residues and anaerobic digestion sludge (as well as many other solid wastes) into renewable resources, yet its agronomic and environmental benefits can be multidimentional. Our research focuses on 1) characterizing biochar's physicochemical properties using various state-of-the-art techniques, 2) engineering its functionality using different novel physical, chemical, and biological methods, and 3) appraising the performance of pristine and engineered biochar in soil quality enhancement, water and wastewater treatment, and greenhouse gas emission mitigation.

Prevalent overuse of synthetic fertilizers has resulted in excess nutrients (e.g., N and P) in the environment. Through our multi-scale research, we aim to advance current knowledge of environmental fate and transport of excess nutrients in their convertible forms to inform science-based strategies to avoid the adverse environmental impacts. In lab and field studies, we synthesize functional soil amendments (e.g., biochar, nitrification inhibitor, and controlled-release fertilizers) to optimize water and nutrient retention and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At a watershed scale, the interactive relationships between land use, water quality/quantity, and climate change are investigated using process-based models.

Freshwater scarcity is being exacerbated by today's rapidly growing human population, increasing living standards, and deteriorating climate change. Membrane-based desalination technologies, particularly reverse osmosis (RO), is the most prevalent for large-scale applications. Our research goal is to improve the energy efficiency and permeate production of RO and its derivative systems by optimizing membrane properties and process designs. We are also interested in studying the removal of various contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in novel desalination systems.