My research interests revolves around mineral crystallization and precipitation kinetics by polymer surface modification, 3D printing parameter optimization, porous media transport and reaction processes and interfacial interactions. My other research interests include detailed polymer characterization, polymer degradation and separations of multilayered plastics.
Abstract:
Mineral precipitation reactions in porous media can influence the porosity and permeability of a formation. However, predicting reaction rates and their impact on formation properties is challenging due to limited knowledge of mineral precipitation kinetics and mechanisms within porous media. This challenge is further complicated by the inherent heterogeneity of natural porous systems. In this study, we aim to develop an innovative experimental platform utilizing 3D printing to enable replicable mineral precipitation experiments in controlled, heterogeneous porous media. This requires a fundamental understanding of mineral precipitation kinetics on the polymer materials used to fabricate the 3D-printed porous structures. Specifically, we modify high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) surfaces through sulfonation to enhance calcite precipitation from supersaturated solutions, aiding in the design of synthetic subsurface systems. Calcite precipitation on sulfonated HIPS films is confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and weight-based precipitation experiments, demonstrating increased precipitation with greater surface functionalization and higher solution saturation indices. This methodology is then applied to 3D-printed porous media to advance insights into geochemical reactions, particularly calcite precipitation. The findings underscore the potential for further exploration of 3D-printed media in diverse geochemical applications.