Chiara Recalcati - PhD Graduate IAI

"Stochastic characterization of reactive processes in porous media"
My research is focused on exploring critical elements of the nature of flow and transport processes taking place across porous geomaterials and their interactions with the host solid matrix. In this broad context, dissolution is a key process driving mineral transformations. These transformations, in turn, drive weathering of mineral surfaces, interact with spreading of pollutants in groundwater systems, and favor carbon capture through mineralization. The key research questions tackled in my PhD thesis are related to (a) enhancing our ability to directly observe and quantify dissolution reaction rates through original nanoscale imaging experiments and (b) providing an interpretation of the observed rates through rigorous stochastic modeling approaches capable of quantifying uncertainty.