A researcher at Colorado School of Mines has been awarded $100,000 from the Schmidt Family Foundation for a six-month project investigating a new approach to treating the water that collects in mines.
Amir Riahi, postdoctoral researcher in mining engineering, has proposed an innovative process intensification strategy to enhance the ability of biochar – similar to the material that powers your kitchen Brita filter – to capture metal contaminants such as nickel in mine water.
“Mine water often contains harmful substances that can damage the environment and affect human health, making it essential to find effective ways to mitigate these risks,” Riahi said.
Riahi will use the Schmidt funding to study how gentle but powerful vibrations can help biochar capture metals and other contaminants from mine water more effectively. The research will also look at how well the biochar can be reused and how selectively it removes different contaminants. To understand how the biochar works, the team will use a variety of scientific techniques to examine its structure, composition and surface properties.
An expert in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), Riahi’s research background spans mining and environmental engineering, materials science, surface and bulk characterization, environmental remediation, contaminant fate and transport modeling, and Earth science. He holds a Ph.D. in Earth Science & Engineering from Montana Technical University and M.S. in Mining & Environmental Engineering and a B.S. in Mining & Mineral Processing Engineering from the University of Tehran.
About Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.
