Organization · Staff Home pages

Liyuan Liang Earth, Aquatic, and Atmospheric Sciences Group Environmental Sciences Division Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6038 Phone:  (865)241-3933 Fax:  (865)576-8646 liangl@ornl.gov

Research Interests

• Laboratory and field research on processes affecting colloidal particles in natural water environments: colloidal stability, deposition, and transport.
• Chemical processes governing mineral precipitation and dissolution in water.
• Aqueous chemical speciation and surface chemical reactions controlling fate of toxic metals and organic contaminants in environment.

Background/Education  [ Top ]

Education

• Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 1988
• M.S., Environmental Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 1983
• B.S., Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 1982

Experience

• Staff Scientist, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1990 to present
  Research in the area of colloid transport in groundwater, focusing on the influence of field geochemical factors on the chemical precipitation, dissolution and transport of colloidal iron oxide particles; research in the mechanisms and kinetics of reductive dechlorination of organic solvents (TCE, PCE, CT, PCBs) with zero valence metals; metal sorption by natural organic sorbents (peats) to be used as permeable reactive barrier materials; Tc removal from water by synthetic sorbents and zero-valence iron; DOE in situ remediation integrated program development; study of peroxidation of organic contaminated soils.
• Science Leader, Environmental Process and Technology, Environmental Sciences Division, ORNL, 1999-present
• Group Leader, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sciences Division, ORNL, 1995-1997
• Senior Lecturer, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Wales, Cardiff, UK, 1997-1999
• Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 1988 to 1990

Current Research Projects  [ Top ]

• Reactive Barrier Performance Monitoring and Verification - This project is a collaborative effort among Department of Energy, Department of Defense and Environmental Protection Agency to resolve subsurface contamination problems. The objectives of the project are to develop a prior testing requirements that predict the longevity of a Permeable Reactive Barrier (PRB), to develop monitoring methods that will provide early warning of incipient barrier failure, and develop long-term monitoring protocols that minimize operation and maintenance costs. Data collection at field installations, pilot-scale tests and geochemical modeling are applied in the research.
• Research in the area of colloid transport in groundwater, focusing on the influence of field geochemical factors on chemical dissolution and transport of colloidal iron oxide particles.
• Gas hydrate research. Participate in experimental design and interpretation of influence of physicochemical factors on hydrate stability.

Professional Activities  [ Top ]

• Steering Committee Member, European Treatment Zones Team (1998-present)
• Committee Member, Environment and Water Group, Society of Chemical Industry (1998-present)
• Steering Committee Member, Remediation Technology Development Forum (RTDF), Permeable Reactive Barriers Action Team (1996-present)
• Chaired and organized Session on "Innovative Treatment Technologies for TCE Removal from Groundwater and Soils", Emerging Technologies in Hazardous Waste Management VII. Sponsor: American Chemical Society, American Academy of Environmental Engineers, Atlanta, GA, 1995
• Panel member, EPA review for Mobilization of Colloid in Subsurface, Ada, OK, 1995
• Panel member, EPA Roundtable Discussion on Permeable Reactive Walls, St. Petersburg Beach, FL, 1997
• Invited by the UK Environment Agency to represent the UK as an expert speaker at NATO CCMS Pilot study meeting on Permeable Wall Technology, February 1998, Vienna.

Selected Publications  [ Top ]

• Liang, L., A. Hofmann, and B. Gu. 2000. Ligand-induced dissolution and release of ferrihydrite colloids. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 64(2):2027-2037.
• Liang, L., N. Korte, B. Gu, R. Puls, and C. Reeter. Geochemical and microbial reactions affecting the long-term performance of in situ iron barriers. Advances in Environmental Research (in press).
• B. Gu, G. M. Brown, P. V. Bonnesen, L. Liang, B. A. Moyer, R. Ober, and S. D. Alexandratos. 2000. Development of Novel Bifunctional Anion-Exchange Resins with Improved Selectivity for Pertechnetate: Column Breakthrough and Field Studies. Environ. Sci. Technol. Environ. Sci. Technol. 34:1075-1080.
• B. Gu, T. J. Phelps, L. Liang, M. J. Dickey, Y. Roh, B. L. Kinsall, A. V. Palumbo, and G. K. Jacobs. 1999. Biogeochemical dynamics in zero-valent iron columns: implications for permeable reactive barriers. Environ. Sci. Technol. 33:2170-2177.
• V. Birke, L. Liang, and H. Burmeier. 1999. Durchstromte reaktoren zur In-situ Grundwassersanierung, TerraTech, 1999(1):23-25.
• Liang L., and B. Gu. 1998. The treatment of groundwater with mixed-wastes: reductive dechlorination of TCE and reductive precipitation of uranium. NATO/CCMS Pilot Study, EPA 542-R-9-003, May 1998. NATO publication No 229. pp. 36-43.
• Liang, L., B. Gu, and A. Hofmann. 1998. Kinetics of iron oxide dissolution as enhanced by organic ligands, Minerological magazine, Vol 62A (2):887-888.
• B. Gu, L. Liang, M. J. Dickey, X. Yin, and S. Dai. 1998. Reductive precipitation of uranium(VI) by zero-valence iron. Environ. Sci. Technol. 32:3366-3373.
• Gu, B., L. Liang, P. Cameron, O. R. West, and D. Davenport. 1997. TCE and PCB degradation by zero-valence iron in the presence of surfactants, International containment technology conference, St Petersburg FL. pp. 760-766.
• Korte, N., O. R. West, L. Liang, M.J. Pelfrey, and T. C. Houk. 1997. A field-scale test facility for permeable reactive barriers at Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plant. Federal facilities environmental journal, Autumn. pp. 105-114.
• Liang, L., N. E. Korte, J. D. Goodlaxson, J. Clausen, Q. Fernando, and R. Muftikian. 1997. By product formation during the reduction of TCE by zero-valence iron and palladized iron. Ground water Monitoring Review Winter:122-127.
• Korte, N., L. Liang, R. Muftikian, C. Grittini, and Q. Fernando. 1997. The dechlorination of hydrocarbons. Platinum Metals Review 41(1):2-6.
• Liang, L., B. Gu, and X. Yin. 1996. Removal of Technetium-99 from Contaminated Groundwater with Sorbents and Reductive Materials. Separations Technology, 6:111-122.
• Liang, L., J. D. Goodlaxson, N. E. Korte, J. L. Clausen, and D. T. Davenport. 1995. ORNL/MMES RESEARCH INTO REMEDIAL APPLICATIONS OF ZERO-VALENCE METALS. 1: Laboratory analysis of reductive dechlorination of trichloroethene. 209th National Meeting, Anaheim, CA. American Chemical Society 35(1):728-731.
• McCarthy, J. F., B. Gu, L. Liang, J. Mas-Pla, T. M. Williams, and T. C. J. Yeh. 1996. Field tracer tests on the mobility of natural organic matter in a sandy aquifer. Water Resources Res. 32(5):1223-38.
• Liang, L., and J. F. McCarthy. 1995. Colloidal transport of metal contaminants in groundwater. In Metal Speciation and Contamination of Soil. H. E. Allen, C. P. Huang, G. W. Bailey, and A. R. Bowers (eds.), Lewis Pub. pp. 87-112.
• Liang, L., J. F. McCarthy, L. W. Jolley, J. A. McNabb, and T. L. Mehlhorn. 1993. Iron Dynamics-Observations of Transformation during Injection of Natural Organic Matter in a Sandy Aquifer. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 57:1987-1999.
• Liang, L., J. A. McNabb, J. M. Paulk, B. Gu, and J. F. McCarthy. 1993. Kinetics of Fe(II) Oxygenation at Low Partial Pressure of Oxygen in the Presence of Natural Organic Matter. Environmental Science and Technology 27(9):1864-1870.

September 18, 2000