Bacteria are ubiquitous in low-temperature geologic systems, and we have strong qualitative evidence that bacteria influence the distribution of mass in these systems by affecting solute adsorption, mineral dissolution, and mineral precipitation reactions. My research involves using laboratory experiments to isolate and study each of these types of reactions, and using the results to construct quantitative models of the effects of bacteria on mass transfer in water-rock systems.
 

The Environmental Geochemistry and Geomicrobiology Laboratory is equipped to conduct microbiological and aqueous geochemical investigations. Bacterial culturing and microbiological experiments are to be carried out in a sterile cleanroom that is adjacent to the main wet chemistry laboratory.
 
 
 

The laboratory is also equipped with an autoclave and an incubator for sterilization and growth of bacterial cultures, respectively, and an automatic titration system is operational for determining the
acid/base chemistry of bacterial and mineral surfaces.
 
 

Wet chemistry facilities in the laboratory include: computer controlled pH-stat apparatus, pH meters, constant temperature water baths, solids preparation facilities, and two high-speed centrifuges.
 
 

Analytical chemistry capabilities that are available for use include departmental facilities, such as the ICP-MS facility for elemental analyses to the sub-ppb level, and all of the equipment maintained by the Center for Environmental Science and Technology , located in the same building as the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences. These facilities include: ICP-AES (for elemental analyses from ppb to 1000's of ppm), dissolved organic carbon analyzer, UV-VIS spectrophotometry, ion chromatography (IC), high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), stable isotope mass spectrometry, and a range of gas chromatographs (GC) and GC-mass spectrometers.