Most of the research group in January 2026
About
The Alessi Group is curious, engaged, and active in furthering our understanding of the surface chemistry of materials including pyrogenic carbon, microbes, minerals, and sediments, the water cycles of industrial processes, catchment hydrogeology, and the extraction and purification of critical minerals.
Driving Questions
What are the underlying mechanisms by which environmental surfaces, including minerals and bacteria, control the mobility of nutrients and contaminants in the subsurface and water bodies?
What is the role of natural pyrogenic carbon in metal(loid) and nutrient transport now and in the geologic past?
How can processing technologies be developed to optimize critical mineral extraction from alternative feedstocks, such as clay minerals, industrial waste streams, and unconventional fluids, while minimizing environmental impacts?"
Recent News
April 9, 2026 - A wealth of lithium buried under Alberta. - CBC Radio
September 23, 2025 - Professor Daniel Alessi joins Jackson School to bolster critical minerals research. - Jackson School of Geosciences