Aref Shehadeh (Environmental Engineering)
About DOE Fellow
Aref Shehadeh received his Bachelor of Science degree in environmental engineering at Florida International University (FIU). His professional interests include bioremediation technology, green energy initiatives, and researching methods to promote a sustainable future for a growing population. Aref is also president of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) chapter at FIU where he meets with other students to collaborate on ideas and to work on various projects managed by the organization. Aref is now an assistant engineer working at Nova Consulting Inc.
DOE Related Research and Projects
Aref is currently working under the mentorship of Dr. Yelena Katsenovich on the project task titled “Monitoring of U(VI) bioreduction after ARCADIS demonstration at SRS F-Area.” ARCADIS implemented the in situ injections of a carbohydrate substrate to establish anaerobic reactive zones for metal and radionuclide remediation via the enhanced anaerobic reductive precipitation (EARP) process at the Savannah River Site (SRS) F-Area. The addition of the molasses substrate solution to groundwater produces anaerobic conditions with redox values in the methanogenic or sulfate-reducing range, conducive to the reductive precipitation of uranium. The scope of this research will determine whether forms of reduced iron such as siderite and pyrite would arise in the reducing zone and if any mineralogical changes occurred in sediments during the re-oxidation period. Aref’s research focuses on the mineralogical changes that would occur in SRS sediments after being augmented with molasses and sulfate. He is involved in a microcosm study that evaluates the effectiveness of these augmentations and longevity of contaminant immobilization for the SRS site specific conditions. In addition, these experiments will illustrate the types of reactions that might occur in the anaerobic aquifer at SRS.