Daniel Alessi
Contact
Professor and Encana Chair in Water Resources, Faculty of Science - Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
- alessi@ualberta.ca
Overview
About
My research group studies the surface chemistry of materials, the biogeochemistry of metals cycling in water, soils and sediments, and the water cycle in unconventional energy recovery. With collaborators on campus and internationally, we are currently focused on: (1) the chemical behavior of pyrolytic carbon (biochar) in the environment and its use in soil and water treatment, (2) evaluating the chemistry of hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced waters, links to toxicity, and impacts to soil and water microbiology following spills, (3) the extraction of lithium from oilfield brines, and (4) modelling the transport and fate of contaminants in geologic media.
Education
- Postdoc, Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
- Ph.D., Geochemistry, University of Notre Dame, 2009
- M.Sc., Hydrogeology, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, 2006
- B.Sc., Geology, University of Wisconsin - Parkside, 2000
Research
Current research areas include:
- Low-temperature and aqueous geochemistry
- Water resources
- Environmental geomicrobiology
Courses
EAS 100 - Planet Earth
Introduction to the origin and evolution of the Earth and the solar system. Introduction to plate tectonics and the rock cycle. Simple energy balances and interactions between radiation and the atmosphere, land, oceans, ice masses, and the global hydrological cycle. Evolution of life, biogeography, and global climate in the context of geologic time. The carbon cycle. Human interaction with the Earth. Mineral and energy resources. This course may not be taken for credit if credit has been obtained in EAS 200 or 201.
EAS 201 - Earth Science I
A non-laboratory introduction to the origin and evolution of the Earth and the solar system. Introduction to plate tectonics and the rock cycle. Simple energy balances and interactions between radiation and the atmosphere, land, oceans, ice masses, and the global hydrological cycle. Evolution of life, biogeography, and global climate in the context of geologic time. The carbon cycle. Human interactions with the Earth. Mineral and energy resources. This course may not be taken for credit if credit has been obtained in EAS 100 or 210. (Note: EAS 201 and EAS 200 are considered to be equivalent to EAS 100 for prerequisite purposes). [Faculty of Science]
EAS 468 - Geochemical Processes
Application of geochemistry to Earth materials and geological settings. Topics vary: see www.eas.ualberta.ca/eas468 for details. May be taken more than once for credit provided no topic is repeated. Topics include: (1) Geochemistry of Ore Deposits; (2) Environmental Geochemistry (Not available to students with credit in EAS 420). Prerequisite: EAS 320 or consent of instructor. [Faculty of Science]
EAS 568 - Advanced Geochemical Processes
Application of geochemistry to Earth materials and geological settings. Topics vary: see www.eas.ualberta.ca/eas568 for details. May be taken more than once for credit provided no topic in EAS 468 or 568 is repeated. Topics include: (1) Geochemistry of Ore Deposits (Not available to students with credit in EAS 434); (2) Environmental Geochemistry. Classes concurrent with EAS 468. [Faculty of Science]