CCUS

Diagenesis and GeoEnergy

Our research group started in the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London, as the Diagenesis Linked Research Group. We contributed research in the Qatar Carbonates and Carbon Storage Research Centre project. In 2015, we moved to the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham and became the Geochemistry Research Group. We were part of the GeoEnergy Research Centre, a collaboration between chemistry, engineering and mathematics at the University of Nottingham and the British Geological Survey. Since 2020, the research group belongs to the Department of Materials Engineering at KU Leuven. The group was renamed again to reflect a reorientation in research towards interfaces in materials, and is now called the interfacial engineering Research (iR) group.

Diagenesis involves all physicochemical reactions that affect sedimentary rocks from the time of deposition until the onset of metamorphism. Diagenetic studies are crucial in the context of exploration for natural resources, as well as for underground storage of resources or waste. Such studies commonly involve field work with in situ measurements, sampling, and subsequent laboratory chemical analyses and mechanical tests on collected samples. This can then be complemented with geochemical modeling. Central in this research is fluid-rock interaction, with phenomena of interest to both geoscientists and engineers. Hence, interfaces between natural materials and fluids or gas are critical aspects for further investigation.

Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage

Our current research on interfaces in geomaterials is focused on carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). This research supports the transition towards renewable energy, with solutions to mitigate atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions. We investigate gas storage in underground reservoirs, in particular competitive adsorption of carbon dioxide on minerals and rocks. Moreover, we conduct research on the conversion of carbon dioxide into functional carbonate materials. In this research, we take a biomimetic approach for carbon dioxide capture and polymer-mediated crystallization of carbonate. Furthermore, we study enhanced weathering as a carbon dioxide removal technology (C-SINK project). Please contact Prof. Vandeginste, if you have an interest in collaborating on these research topics.

Recent representative publications

• Vandeginste, V., Lim, C., Ji, Y. (2024). Exploratory review on environmental aspects of enhanced weathering as a carbon dioxide removal method. Minerals, 14, 75. doi: 10.3390/min14040075

• Madhav, D., Buffel, B., Moldenaers, P., Desplentere, F., Vandeginste, V. (2023). A review of nacre-inspired materials: Chemistry, strengthening-deformation mechanism, synthesis, and applications. Progress in Materials Science, 139, Art. No. 101168. doi: 10.1016:j.pmatsci.2023.101168

• Xie, W., Wang, H., Vandeginste, V., Chen, S., Gan, H., Wang, M., Yu, Z. (2023). Thermodynamic and kinetic affinity of CO2 relative to CH4 and their pressure, temperature and pore structure sensitivity in the competitive adsorption system in shale gas reservoirs. Energy, 277, Art. No. 127591. doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.127591

• Madhav, D., Coppitters, T., Ji, Y., Thielemans, W., Desplentere, F., Moldenaers, P. and Vandeginste, V. (2023). Amino acid promoted single-step carbon dioxide capture and mineralization integrated with polymer-mediated crystallization of carbonates. Journal of Cleaner Production, p.137845. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137845 

• Vandeginste, V., Ji, Y., Buysschaert, F., Anoyatis, G. (2023). Mineralogy, microstructures and geomechanics of rock salt for underground gas storage. Deep Underground Science and Engineering, 2 (2), 129-147. doi.org/10.1002/dug2.12039 

• Martin-Clave, C., Ougier-Simonin, A., Vandeginste, V. (2021). Impact of second phase content on rock salt rheological behaviour under cyclic mechanical conditions. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 5 April 2021. doi: 10.1007/s00603-021-02449-4

interfacial engineering Research (iR) group