Carbon Cycling and Removal

Carbon cycling past, present and future

Our research in this area is focused on the carbon cycle, past and present. We are especially interested in understanding how carbon is transferred between the soil environment and the atmosphere and how such transfers might inform management strategies.

Looking towards the future of the carbon cycling interested in strategies that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, including geologic carbon storage and enhanced weathering. We are also developing novel approaches, including a method to capture carbon dioxide in soils. 

Safely storing carbon dioxide in the subsurface

The injection of large volumes of CO₂ into the subsurface is an essential strategy for both enhanced energy extraction and the disposal of waste products derived from energy generation. As the CO₂ interacts with mineral surfaces and dissolves into local fluids, the ensuing chemical reactions transform the subsurface environment and impact the fate and transport of CO₂ and other fluids. The goal of our collective experimental studies, geochemical modeling and field observations is to provide new insights into the reactivity of CO₂-bearing fluids with mineral surfaces. We are particularly interested in the reactions involving Mg- and Ca-silicates that result in the formation of carbonate minerals. 

Also visit the Stanford Center for Carbon Storage (SCCS) website to learn more about all of the carbon storage research at Stanford.