Name: Estefania Garcia; Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology; Program: University Training and Research (UTR) Program; Education Level: Graduate Student
September 16, 2024
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Estefania Garcia is a graduate student studying biogeochemistry at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Estefania’s research is centered on studying trace elements, including arsenic and selenium, in coal fly ash, a byproduct of fossil fuel use in the coal industry. The results of this research should provide better insight into waste disposal and the possible beneficial uses of waste in the concrete industry.
Estefania’s research involves characterizing representative samples of coal fly ash from across the United States. The re-use of fly ash decreases the amount of cement needed for concrete mixtures, leading to the potential reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Additionally, Estefania’s efforts will provide a benefit to communities. Fly ash is mostly disposed of in ash ponds, and leaching from these ponds may affect the quality of local water quality. The information gathered from studying arsenic and selenium mobility, along with the oxidation for certain fly ashes, would be beneficial to those communities. Estefania feels the UTR program has provided her with an excellent opportunity to harness her research skills and would recommend the experience to other students.