# Understanding Mineral Dissolution in Porous Media Coupled With Single- and Multi-phase Flows: A Coordinated Experimental and Numerical Study

> **NSF 01002425DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · University of California-Riverside (CA) · $403,966

## Abstract

The increasing buildup of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere contributes to a wide range of environmental, social, and economic problems. One viable way to mitigate CO2 emission is through an operation called carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). In CCS, CO2 is captured from power plants, and injected into underground saline aquifers. However, injection of CO2 into geologic formations leads to dissolution of minerals due to the acidic nature of CO2, which can create leakage pathways and threaten the safety and security of CO2 storage. Therefore, an accurate knowledge of mineral dissolution in saline aquifers is needed to design effective, safe, and efficient CCS operations. The goal of this project is to bridge this knowledge gap through coordinated lab experiments and numerical simulations. Innovative fabrication, flow visualization, and simulation techniques will be combined to understand the chemical and physical processes that drive rock dissolution. More broadly, successful completion of this research can also benefit studies on agriculture, soil formation, and underground cave geology, as similar processes occur in these systems. Further benefits to society will result from diversifying the STEM workforce through training and education of female and Native American students, creating YouTube contents as educational materials for the public, and supporting two major campus-wide outreach events including the Earth and Science Explore Camp and Montana State Family Sc

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2534510
- **Awardee organization:** University of California-Riverside (CA)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** MR5QC5FCAVH5
- **PI:** Yaofa Li
- **Primary program:** 01002425DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES
- **Estimated total:** $403,966
- **Funds obligated:** $403,966
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 07/01/2025 → 06/30/2028

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2534510

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2534510, Understanding Mineral Dissolution in Porous Media Coupled With Single- and Multi-phase Flows: A Coordinated Experimental and Numerical Study. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-16 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2534510. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NSF Awards dataset](/datasets/nsf-awards) · CC0 1.0*