Projects

My research interests cover a wide range of topics related to surface and interfacial interactions in complex natural and engineered environmental systems. Areas of particular interest include physical-chemical interactions in complex systems, behaviors in unsaturated soils/multiple-phase systems, and numerical model development for prediction and design in complex systems.

Current and Recent Projects:

Fundamental processes influencing environmentally benign aqueous microemulsion-based methods for bio-oil extraction (National Science Foundation; PI: D. Sabatini; 10/2012 to 9/2015)
	This project centers around development of quantitative tools and methods for enhanced microemulsion-based bio-oil extraction.

Dynamic Capillary Effects Throughout the Hysteretic Capillary Pressure-Saturation (Pc - S) Relationship: Fundamental Causes and Dependencies (National Science Foundation; 7/2010 to 7/2014)
	The emphasis of this project is on understanding and quantifying the factors influencing dynamic capillary effects in porous media.

Robust Vegetable Oil/Diesel Reverse Microemulsion Biofuels (Oklahoma Bioenergy Center; PI: D. Sabatini; 7/2009 to 6/2011)
	The objective of this project is to develop methods of producing reverse-microemulsion diesel-vegetable oil biofuels with desirable operating characteristics.

Rapid Detection of Trace Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Complex Mixtures: A Full- Spectrum Deconvolution Technique with a UV-Transparent Passive Concentrator (US Environmental Protection Agency; with D. Sabatini; 1/2006 to 9/2010)
	This project focuses on developing a rapid method for detecting endocrine disrupting compounds (hormones, hormone mimics) at trace levels in the environment.

Hysteretic Accumulation and Release of Nanomaterials in the Vadose Zone (US Environmental Protection Agency; with D. Sabatini; 9/2005 to 8/2009)
	This project examines the role of hysteretic vadose zone interactions on the fate and transport of manufactured nanomaterials in the unsaturated zone, with emphasis on understanding how wetting/drying history and changing interfacial areas influences nanomaterial behavior.

CAREER: Surfactant Mixtures in Complex Environmental Systems (National Science Foundation; 5/2001 to 4/2008)
	This project is focused on studying the influence of trace levels of surfactants and surfactant mixtures on the migration and dissolution of organic liquid contaminants in the subsurface. The educational component of this project emphasizes development of abstract problem solving skills in science and engineering students.

Interfacial Areas in Porous Media: An Experimental Study of Hysteresis in The Three-Dimensional Capillary Pressure-Saturation-Interfacial Area (Pc-S-A) Relationship (American Chemical Society, Petroleum Research Fund; 5/2003 to 3/2007)
	This project used a modified version of the parallel pressure cell device (shown below) and a new technique for measuring the interfacial areas between multiple fluids in the porous media throughout the hysteretic Pc-S relationship. The objective of the work was to use experimental measurements to examine whether the Pc-S-A relationship is hysteretic.

The Influence of Amphiphilic Molecules on the Environmental Fate and Transport of Pharmaceuticals (US Environmental Protection Agency; with D. Sabatini; 9/2001 to 8/2005)
	Surfactants and other amphiphilic molecules enter the environment with pharmaceuticals through incomplete wastewater treatment and through other pathways. This project examined the effects of trace levels of surfactants on the fate and transport of pharmaceuticals in the environment.

Acquisition and Development of Equipment for Unsaturated Soil Research (National Science Foundation; with G. Miller, M. Mooney, K. K. Muraleetharan, R. Kolar, R. Knox, D. Sabatini, M. Zaman; 5/2001 to 1/2004)
	This project provided initial funding for construction of the automated parallel miniature pressure cell apparatus for rapid measurement of capillary pressure - saturation (Pc-S) relationships. The device is shown below.


Automated Parallel Capillary Pressure-Saturation Measurement Device developed through the NSF MRI project listed above.

Current and Recent Projects:

Fundamental processes influencing environmentally benign aqueous microemulsion-based methods for bio-oil extraction (National Science Foundation; PI: D. Sabatini; 10/2012 to 9/2015)

Dynamic Capillary Effects Throughout the Hysteretic Capillary Pressure-Saturation (Pc - S) Relationship: Fundamental Causes and Dependencies (National Science Foundation; 7/2010 to 7/2014)

Robust Vegetable Oil/Diesel Reverse Microemulsion Biofuels (Oklahoma Bioenergy Center; PI: D. Sabatini; 7/2009 to 6/2011)

Rapid Detection of Trace Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Complex Mixtures: A Full- Spectrum Deconvolution Technique with a UV-Transparent Passive Concentrator (US Environmental Protection Agency; with D. Sabatini; 1/2006 to 9/2010)

Hysteretic Accumulation and Release of Nanomaterials in the Vadose Zone (US Environmental Protection Agency; with D. Sabatini; 9/2005 to 8/2009)

CAREER: Surfactant Mixtures in Complex Environmental Systems (National Science Foundation; 5/2001 to 4/2008)

Interfacial Areas in Porous Media: An Experimental Study of Hysteresis in The Three-Dimensional Capillary Pressure-Saturation-Interfacial Area (Pc-S-A) Relationship (American Chemical Society, Petroleum Research Fund; 5/2003 to 3/2007)

The Influence of Amphiphilic Molecules on the Environmental Fate and Transport of Pharmaceuticals (US Environmental Protection Agency; with D. Sabatini; 9/2001 to 8/2005)

Acquisition and Development of Equipment for Unsaturated Soil Research (National Science Foundation; with G. Miller, M. Mooney, K. K. Muraleetharan, R. Kolar, R. Knox, D. Sabatini, M. Zaman; 5/2001 to 1/2004)