Clay content mediates the contribution of suspended Sporosarcina Pasteurii to Microbial Mineralization in Sandstones

Albalghiti, E.M., Ellis, B.R.

Water Resources Research, 62, e2025WR040790

Key finding: Clay minerals are a critical — and previously overlooked — regulator of how suspended bacteria drive calcite precipitation in porous rock, with major implications for engineered biogrouting and CO₂ storage site integrity.

Pilot-scale validation of CO₂ utilization for greener and tougher infrastructure through carbonation curing of bendable concrete

Zhang, D., Feng, B., Jaworska, B., Ellis, B.R., Fancy, S., Sick, V., Li, V.C.

Journal of Cleaner Production, 491, 144845

Key finding: CO₂ curing of ECC concrete railroad ties at pilot scale simultaneously increases flexural strength and permanently mineralizes carbon — a validated industrial pathway to carbon-negative construction materials.

Wellbore Integrity in Energy Applications: Precipitation Products After Reaction with Produced Water from the Permian Basin

Perea, E.J., Driovinto, T.Q.C., Ellis, B.R., Spilde, M., Peterson, E.J., et al.

Environmental Engineering Science, 42 (10), 434–444

Hydrodynamic limitations of biomineralization-induced permeability reduction

Albalghiti, E.M., Ellis, B.R.

ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 8 (3), 575–585

Key finding: Fluid velocity sets a fundamental ceiling on how much pore-clogging bacteria can achieve — identifying a key design constraint for any application using microbes to seal subsurface formations.

Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of CO₂-enabled sedimentary basin geothermal

Liu, L., Miranda, M.M., Bielicki, J.M., Ellis, B.R., Johnson, J.X.

Environmental Science and Technology, 58 (4), 1882–1893

Microwave-based CO₂ desorption for enhanced direct air capture: Experimental validation and techno-economic perspectives

Lim, T.H., Foster, J.E., Ellis, B.R., Skerlos, S.J.

Environmental Research Letters, 19, 034002

The promise of coupling geologic CO₂ storage with sedimentary basin geothermal power generation

Bielicki, J.M., Leveni, M., Johnson, J.X., Ellis, B.R.

iScience, 26 (2), 105618

Key finding: Pairing geologic CO₂ storage with geothermal power generation can produce electricity with strongly negative lifecycle emissions — turning a carbon disposal problem into an energy asset.

Persistent homology as a heterogeneity metric for predicting pore size change in dissolving carbonates

Thompson, E.P., Ellis, B.R.

Water Resources Research, 59 (9), e2023WR034559

Reducing user bias in X-ray computed tomography-derived rock parameters through image filtering

Thompson, E.P., Tomenchok, K., Olson, T., Ellis, B.R.

Transport in Porous Media, 140, 493–509

Key finding: Systematic image filtering of micro-CT data substantially reduces operator-dependent variability in computed rock properties such as porosity and permeability — a critical methodological advance for reproducible pore-scale characterization.

Permanent CO₂ trapping through localized and chemical gradient-driven basalt carbonation

Menefee, A.H., Giammar, D.E., Ellis, B.R.

Environmental Science & Technology, 52 (15), 8954–8964

Key finding: Post-reaction micro-CT and SEM characterization revealed that carbonates preferentially nucleate in diffusion-limited vesicles and dead-end fractures in basalt — demonstrating how chemical gradients drive localized, permanent CO₂ mineral trapping.

Forensic estimates of lead release from lead service lines during the water crisis in Flint, Michigan

Olson, T.M., Wax, M., Yonts, J., Heidecorn, K., Haig, S.J., Yeoman, D., Hayes, Z., Raskin, L., Ellis, B.R.

Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 4, 356–361

Key finding: Forensic analysis revealed that lead service lines released orders of magnitude more lead during Flint's water crisis than prior estimates — findings that shaped the federal response and future lead pipe replacement policy.

3D calcite mapping and a demonstration of its relevance to permeability evolution in reactive fractures

Ellis, B.R., Peters, C.A.

Advances in Water Resources, 95, 246–253

Dissolution-driven permeability reduction of a fractured carbonate caprock

Ellis, B.R., Fitts, J.P., Bromhal, G.S., McIntyre, D.L., Tappero, R., Peters, C.A.

Environmental Engineering Science, 30 (4), 187–193 (Featured Article)

Key finding: CO₂-acidified brine dissolves carbonate caprocks along fractures, but re-precipitation of dissolution products can partially re-seal pathways — a surprising self-healing mechanism with implications for long-term storage security.