CEOE Ph.D. Student Seminar Series

ABSTRACTS

Bo Zhao, PhD Candidate in Environmental Engineering

Alkaline hydrolysis is a potentially effective route for transforming chlorinated nitroaromatic contaminants, yet the factors governing its efficiency, pathway selectivity, and detoxification performance remain incompletely understood. My doctoral research focuses on the alkaline transformation of highly chlorinated nitroaromatic compounds, with the aim of identifying the key molecular-level processes that control their reactivity under basic conditions. By combining degradation experiments, product analysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, this work examines how reaction pathways evolve, why certain transformation routes are favored over others, and which elementary steps dominate the overall kinetic barrier. Particular attention is given to the role of deprotonation and related post-attack processes in reshaping the reaction energy landscape. Together, these results provide a mechanistic framework for understanding alkaline hydrolysis beyond empirical reactivity trends and offer insights relevant to the treatment and detoxification of hazardous contaminants in alkaline waste streams.

Zechen Ding, PhD Candidate in Civil Engineering

Chlorinated solvent contamination poses a persistent threat to groundwater quality and human health, especially in low-permeability formations where contaminants are difficult to remove using conventional in situ remediation technologies. Hydraulic fracturing with amendment-filled particles is a promising method for remediating chlorinated solvent contamination in low-permeability formations. This study experimentally investigates the mechanical behavior of sand and granular activated carbon (GAC) in fractures through laboratory conductivity tests, with a focus on the hydraulic conductivity evolution of GAC-filled fractures created in clay-rich formation. The work aims to improve understanding of GAC-filled fracture behavior and support the design of more effective remediation strategies.

BIOGRAPHIES

Bo Zhao is a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, advised by Professor Xiaoguang Meng. He received his bachelor’s degree from China University of Mining and Technology and his master’s degree from Shandong University. His research focuses on the transformation and interfacial behavior of environmental contaminants, with particular interests in metal(loid) adsorption at mineral–water interfaces. His work integrates spectroscopic characterization, density functional theory (DFT), and atomic-scale imaging to resolve adsorption structures and interfacial reaction mechanisms at the microscopic level.

Professional in wellbore integrity and propped fractures for applications such as unconventional hydrocarbon development, geothermal energy extraction, and chlorinated solvent remediation.