Personal Statement
Jing Liu
I plan to apply for M.S. leading to Ph.D. program of the Department of Earth and Environmental
Engineering (EEE) in Columbia University. I enjoy pursuing the largest separation efficiency and
value-added products based on the energy management and solid waste treatment and recovery(语言表
达上的问题，这句话有没有逻辑上的问题), which I personally think is similar to the life philosophy. Most
importantly, in EEE I find fascinating research fields—Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), mineral
waste treatment and recovery, hydrometallurgical process and transport process—which are closely
related with my current research in Institute of Process Engineering (IPE), Chinese Academy of
Sciences (CAS). They can intrigue my interest till the fulfillment of Ph.D. degree. In one word, EEE in
Columbia University is a great attraction for me.
To deeply master the mechanism and better optimize the chemical process, I laid a solid theoretical
foundation. I can understand the Separation Technology, and Transport Process will provide theoretical
instructions for strengthening chemical process in consideration of the tolerating limit and cost of
apparatus. But kinetic analysis of reaction mechanism becomes difficult for multiphase complex system,
let alone the rate-controlling step can alter during one reaction; therefore I am auditing the graduate
course Kinetic Theory on Heterogeneous Catalytic Reaction and deal with the rate-controlling step for
optimization and kinetic model. In addition, I realize the product’s uniformity and purity by controlling
reaction conditions will add value to the chemical process. (需要大改)
对 CCS 的关注：
Occasionally I knew a CCS project, curious about such technology people used to solve climate
problems, I learnt more from the websites of Albert Research Council, Zero Emission Research and
Center, Global Climate & Energy Project, TxCCSA. Finally I focused on the CO2 mineral sequestration
technology. I learnt Huijgen’s group first systematically implement steelmaking slag as the material for
CO2 sequestration, which is calcium-bearing can sequestrate the same amount of CO2 with less energy
compared with magnesium-bearing ore, as well as the fulfillment of mineral waste treatment and
recovery. But the high cost for direct method and the selectivity and recycle of appropriate medium has
been an obstacle for its industrial scale-up application.
In CAS, I participate in the project about indirect CO2 (MS) with steelmaking slag, during which the
medium can be recycled to a large extent because the concentration gradient of acetic acid in organic
tributyl phosphate (TBP) phase and aqueous phase is inverse between the leaching process and
carbonation one. Because traditional shape interface reaction model is unavailable in case of elements’
uneven concentrations, we focus on the disappearance of acetic acid in organic phase since previous try
fits the result. To hypothesize and verify kinetic equation, I measured a series of residual acetic acid
concentrations in organic phase upon different moments since the migrated acid in aqueous phase will
immediately react with the slag. In addition, two main factors are involved with our research, one is the
initial acid concentration and the calcium turns out a higher selectivity by snatching the acetate from
Magnesium in low acid concentration, the other is the phase volume ratio and we speculate it will change
the kinetic equation. Furthermore, the influence of CO2 pressure for the ions’ equilibrium between two
phases in carbonation process need further study.
Proposal:
1. Improve the competitiveness of MS with Mg- and Ca- bearing materials—add value to the process
or explore new technology

Based on previous investigation on indirect MS with steelmaking slag, design new reactor
which is beneficial for the precipitation of carbonate and control the purity of the product. For
example, the fundamental study of the extractive equilibrium among CO2, carbonate, acetic
acid, acetate and TBP

Develop a complete new medium which is cheap or highly recycled and no residua on the
materials as well as high sequestrating efficiency. Such medium can be a mixture of organic
solvents

Change the CO2 charging condition to improve the reaction rate, such as supercritical CO2(地
质封存都是以液体形式注入的，能耗太大了)

Develop MS technology to sequestrate other acid gases besides CO2, which means in-situ
technology, which can reduce the capture cost
2. Investigation for other sequestration methods:

Investigate the combination of mineral sequestration (MS) and geological sequestration (GS).
Considering the GS can add value to the process and the MS can be a safer technology for
long-term sequestration.

Investigate the oceanic sequestration. I plan to study using the crystalline hydrate to
encapsulate the liquid CO2 in deep sea.