A recognized expert in the field of electroremediation of soils and groundwater, Sibel Pamukcu's pioneering work spans more than two decades of research. Her efforts focus on soil and groundwater decontamination using electrochemical technologies; advanced geo-materials for environmental mitigation, and the application of sensor systems for distributed measurements in geo-media and civil infrastructure underground.
Current research activities in her lab encompass these focus areas:
- Application of direct current electric field for enhanced recovery of oil, and for in-situ destruction of contaminants through enhanced redox in clay-rich soils and rock formations.
- Development and application of distributed fiber-optic and wireless sensor systems for monitoring progressive changes in geo-media, underground structures, and foundations for preemptive mitigation of hazards.
- Development of surface modified particulate media, including polymer-enhanced sand, for environmental mitigation as on-demand liquid barrier or oil-water separator in subsurface.
Pamukcu is co-holder of several U.S. and international patents granted for the development of a testing procedure used in soil electro remediation and for the development and use of polymer coated sand and its use in environmental mitigation and separation. She has served as the principal and co-principal investigator for more than 60 grants and contracts from national and state agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Electric Power Research Institute, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. In addition, Dr. Pamukcu is co-author of more than 50 peer–reviewed journal articles and more than 100 technical contributions in the form of conference proceedings, research reports and book chapters.
Dr. Pamukcu is a co-PI of Lehigh’s NSF ADVANCE grant, a past recipient of the ASCE Civil Engineering Foundation Grant Award and the Alfred Noble Robinson Award given by Lehigh University.
Teaching and Service
Dr. Pamukcu teaches courses in Geotechnical, Geo-environmental and Foundations Engineering at the undergraduate level; and Advanced Soil Mechanics and Soil Dynamics at the graduate level. She has supervised nine completed Ph.D. student dissertations, more than 25 completed M.S. student theses, and served on 25 doctoral dissertation committees. Some of her former Ph.D. students are now faculty members at national and international institutes.
From 2000-01 and in 2012-13 Dr. Pamukcu served as the Lehigh University Chapter President of Sigma Xi. She has served on the faculty of the Martindale Center for the Study of Private Enterprise at Lehigh University, and was appointed co-director of the Lehigh ADVANCE and interim Chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering from 2011-2013.
Selected Publications
Couto N, Ferreira AN, Lopes V, Peters P, Pamukcu S, Ribeiro AB, “Rare Earth Elements: Overview, General Concepts, and Recovery Techniques, Including Electrodialytic Extraction” Ch. 7 in Electrokinetic Remediation for Environmental Security and Sustainability, eds. AB Ribeiro, MNV Prasad, pp. 159-173, John Wiley & Sons, 2021. ISBN 9781119670117
Couto, NPFS, Ferreira AR, Lopes, V, Peters S, Ribeiro AB, Pamukcu, S “Electrodialytic Extraction of Rare Earth Elements from Coal Ashes” Electrochimica Acta, 359, 2020. https://doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2020.136934
Zanko, LM, Wittle, JK and Pamukcu, S “Case Study: Electrochemical Geo-Oxidation (ECGO) Treatment of Massachusetts New Bedford Harbor Sediment PCBs” Electrochimica Acta, 354, 2020. https://doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2020.136690
Dong, Y and Pamukcu, S “Synthesis of Surface Modified Sands with Thermal-Responsive Wettability” J. of Materials in Civil Engineering, ASCE, 32: 9 – Sept, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0003311
Ayodele, AL, Agbede, OA and Pamukcu S “Plasticity Modification of a Tropical Laterite by Electrochemical Treatment,” Electrochimica Acta, 341, 136047, 2020. https://doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2020.136047
Bustos, E, Méndez, E, Prieto-Garcia, F, Hernández, G, García, J, Solís, S, Pamukcu S, “Study of Electrochemical Removal of Phenantrene in Bentonite Clay by Physicochemical Indicators.” Separation and Purification Technology, 12: 92-99, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2018.04.078
Pamukcu S, “In-situ soil and sediment remediation: Electrokinetic and electrochemical methods,” Handbook of Environmental Engineering, Wiley, ed. Myer Kutz, 2018. ISBN-13: 978-1118712948, https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119304418.ch8
Ayodele AL, Pamukcu S, Shrestha RA, Agbede OA, “Electrochemical Soil Stabilization and Verification,” Geotech Geol Eng, Volume 36, 2:1283–1293 Springer, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-017-0392-8
Pamukcu S, Cheng L, and Pervizpour M, “Introduction and Overview of Underground Sensing for Sustainable Response,” Ch 1, in Underground Sensing: Monitoring for environment and infrastructure, (co-editors: Pamukcu and Cheng), pp. 1-42, Elsevier, Academic Press, 2017. https://doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-803139-1.00001-1
Pamukcu S, and Cheng, L, “Outlook: Advanced Hybrid Sensing for Preemptive Response,” in Underground Sensing: Monitoring for environment and infrastructure, (co-editors: Pamukcu and Cheng), pp. 455-494, Elsevier, Academic Press, 2017. https://doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-803139-1.00009-6
Pamukcu S and Cheng L, Underground Sensing: Monitoring for environment and infrastructure, (co-eds: Pamukcu and Cheng), Elsevier, Academic Press, 2017, ISBN 978-0-12-8031391. https://www.elsevier.com/books/underground-sensing/pamukcu/978-0-12-803139-1
Lima AT, Hofmann A, Reynolds D, Ptacek C, Van Cappellen P, Ottosen L, Pamukcu S, Alshawabekh A, O’Carroll D, Riis C, Cox E, Gent D, R Landis, Wang J, Chowdhury A, Secord E, Sanchez-Hachair A, “Environmental Electrokinetics for a Sustainable Subsurface,” Chemosphere 181: 122-133, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.03.143
Pamukcu S, Shrestha RA, Ribeiro AB, Mateus E, “Electrically Induced Displacement Transport of Immiscible Oil In Saline Sediments,” J. of Hazardous Materials, Elsevier, 313:185-192, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.04.005
Hou Tian-shun, Wang Xin-gang, Pamukcu S, “Geological Characteristics and Stability Evaluation of Wanjia Middle School Slope in Wenchuan Earthquake Area,” Geotech Geol Eng, 2015, 1-13; Springer Verlag; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-015-9941-1
Shrestha RA, Zhang AP, Mateus EP, Ribeiro AB, Pamukcu S, “Electrokinetically Enabled De-swelling of Clay,” Ch 3, in Electrokinetics Across Disciplines and Continents, pp. 43-56, Springer, 2015. https://doi:10.1007/978-3-319-20179-5_3
Gomes HI, Rodríguez-Maroto JM, Ribeiro AB, Pamukcu S, Dias-Ferreira C, “Electrokinetics and Zero Valent Iron Nanoparticles: Experimental and Modeling of the Transport in Different Porous Media,” Ch 14, in Electrokinetics Across Disciplines and Continents, pp.279-294, Springer, 2015. https://doi:10.1007/978-3-319-20179-5_14
Gomes HI, Rodríguez-Maroto JM, Dias-Ferreira C, Pamukcu S, Ribeiro AB, “Numerical prediction of diffusion and electric field-induced iron nanoparticle transport,” Electrochimica Acta,18:5–12; 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2014.11.157
Cui Q, Pamukcu S, Pervizpour M, “Impact Wave Monitoring in Soil Using Dynamic Fiber Sensor Based on Stimulated Brillouin Scattering,” Sensors,15:8163-8172; 2015. https://doi:10.3390/s1504081632015
García JA, Monzón D, Martínez A, Pamukcu S, García R, Bustos E, “Optical Fibers to Detect Heavy Metals in Environment: Generalities and Case Studies,” 427, Ch. 15 in Environmental Sciences: Environmental Risk Assessment of Soil Contamination, Hernandez-Soriano eds., InTech, NY, 2014. https://doi.org/10.5772/57285
Ghazanfari E, Pamukcu S, “Mathematical Modeling of Electrokinetic Transport and Enhanced Oil Recovery in Porous Geo-media,” Chapter 5 in Electrokinetics for Petroleum and Environmental Engineers, eds. G Chilingar and M Haroun; John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey, and Scrivener Publishing, LLC, Massachusetts; pp.177-236; 2014. https://doi: 10.1002/9781118842805.ch5
Pamukcu, S, Ghazanfari, E, Wittle, JK, “Reduction of Contaminants in Soil and Water by Direct Electric Current,” Ch 2, in Electrokinetics for Petroleum and Environmental Engineers, eds. G Chilingar and M Haroun; John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey, and Scrivener Publishing, LLC, Massachusetts; pp.33-102; 2014. https://doi: 10.1002/9781118842805.ch2
Demir A, Pamukcu S, Shrestha RA, “Simultaneous Removal of Pb, Cd and Zn from Heavily Contaminated Mine Tailing Soil Using Enhanced Electrochemical Process” Environmental Eng. Science, 32(5), 416-424, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2014.0384
Sun TR, Pamukcu S, Ottosen LM, Wang F, “Reduction of Hexavalent Chromium in Contaminated Clay by Direct Current Transported Ferrous Iron: Kinetics, Energy Consumption, and Application of Pulse Current,” Chemical Engineering 262: 1099-1107, Elsevier, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2014.10.081
Ghazanfari E, Pamukcu S, Pervizpour M, Karpyn Z, "Investigation of generalized relative permeability coefficients for electrically assisted oil recovery in oil formations" J. Transport in Porous Media, Springer, 105: 235–253, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-014-0368-6
Dong Y, Pamukcu S, “Thermal, electrical conduction in unsaturated sand controlled by surface wettability,” Acta Geotechnica, 10:6, 821–829, Springer, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-014-0317-0
Gomes HI, Dias-Ferreira C, Ribeiro AB, Pamukcu S, “Influence of electrolyte and voltage on the direct current enhanced transport of iron nanoparticles in low permeability media,” Chemosphere, 99: 171–179, 2014. https://doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.10.065
Shin S, Chilingar GV, Haroun M, Wittle K, Meshkati N, Pamukcu S, Jeoung J, Koo H, “Electrokinetics Technology to Improve Acidizing of Carbonate Reservoir Rocks,” J. of Environmental Protection, 4:4, 1-3, 2013. https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2013.44A001
Brosky RT, Pamukcu S, “The Role of DDL Processes During Electrolytic Reduction of Cu(II) in Low Oxygen Environment,” J. of Hazardous Materials, 262: 878-882, Elsevier, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.09.032
Gomes HI, Dias-Ferreira C, Ribeiro AB, Pamukcu S, "Direct current assisted transport and transformation of zero-valent nanoiron in porous media," J. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, Springer, 224:1710. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-013-1710-2
Ghazanfari E, Pamukcu S, Yoon S, Suleiman MT, Cheng L, "Geotechnical Sensing Using Electromagnetic Attenuation Between Radio Transceivers," Smart Materials & Structures, 21(12),125017, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1088/0964-1726/21/12/125017
Yoon S, Ghazanfari E, Cheng L, Wang Z, Pamukcu S, Suleiman MT, " Subsurface Event Detection and Classification Using Wireless Sensor Networks," Sensors, 12(11), 14862-14886, 2012. https://doi.org/10.3390/s121114862
Shin S, Chilingar GV, Haroun M, Ghosh B, Meshkati N, Pamukcu S, Wittle JK, Al Badawi M, “The Effect of Generated Chlorine Gas on Electroremediation of Heavy Metals from Offshore Muds,” J. of Environ. Protection, 3, 363-373, 2012. https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2012.35046
Al Shalabi EW, Ghosh B, Haroun M, Pamukcu S, “Application of Direct Current Potential to Enhancing Water Flood Recovery Efficiency,” Petroleum Science and Technology, 30:20, 2160-2168, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2010.547902
Al Shalabi EW, Ghosh B, Haroun M, Pamukcu S, “Stimulation of Sandstone Reservoirs Using DC Potential,” Petroleum Science and Technology, 30:20, 2137-2147, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2010.551811
Gomes IH, Ferreira CD, Ribeiro AB, Pamukcu S, “Electrokinetic enhanced transport of zero valent iron nanoparticles for chromium (VI) reduction in soils,” Chemical Engineering Transactions, 28, 139-144, 2012. https://doi.org/10.3303/CET1228024
Ghazanfari E, Shrestha R, Miroshnik A, Pamukcu S, "Electrically assisted liquid hydrocarbon transport in porous media", Electrochimica Acta, 86, 185– 191, Elsevier, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2012.04.077
Cui Q, Pamukcu S, Xiao W, Pervizpour M, “Truly Distributed Fiber Vibration Sensor Using Pulse Base BOTDA with Wide Dynamic Range," IEEE Photonics Techn. Letters, 3:24, 1887-1889, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1109/LPT.2011.2170968
Qui Q, Pamukcu S, Lin A, Xiao W, Herr D, Toulouse J, Pervizpour M, “Distributed Temperature Sensing System Based on Rayleigh Scattering BOTDA,” IEEE Sensors Journal, 11(2), 399-403, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2010.2066558
Muraoka T, Ghazanfari E, Shrestha R, Pamukcu S, “Electrically Induced Pore Pressures in High Salt Content Clay Slurry” J. Separation and Purification Technology, 79, 133–138, Elsevier, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2011.02.032
Pervizpour M, Pamukcu S, “Characterization of a surrogate swelling polymer as a functional sensor for distributed liquid sensing,” Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 168, 242–252, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2011.04.026
Haroun M, Chilingar GV, Pamukcu S, “The Efficacy of Using Electrokinetic Transport in Highly-Contaminated Offshore Sediments,” J. Applied Electrochemistry, 40:1131-1138, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-010-0084-z
Akbulut S, Pamukcu S, “Evaluation of Dynamic Properties of Geosynthetic Reinforced Clay Samples for Environmental Impact Practices,” Environ Earth Sci., 61:1449–1456, Springer, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0460-3
Cui Q, Pamukcu S, Lin A, Xiao W, Toulouse J, “Performance of Double Sideband Modulated Probe Wave in BOTDA Distributed Fiber Sensor,” Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, 52, 2713-2717, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1002/mop.25566
Cui Q, Pamukcu S, Xiao W, Guintrand C, Toulouse J, Pervizpour M, “Distributed Fiber Sensor Based on Modulated Pulse Base Reflection and Brillouin Gain Spectrum Analysis,” Applied Optics, Vol. 48(30), 5823-5828, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.48.005823
Pamukcu S, “Electrochemical Transport and Transformations” Chapter 2 in Electrochemical Remediation Technologies for Polluted Soils, Sediments and Groundwater, Reddy and Camaselle eds., pp. 29-65, John Wiley & Sons, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470523650.ch2
Wittle JK, Pamukcu S, Bowman D, Zanko LM, Doering F, “Field Studies on Sediment Remediation,” Chapter 32 in Electrochemical Remediation Technologies for Polluted Soils, Sediments and Groundwater, Reddy and Camaselle, eds., pp. 661-696, John Wiley & Sons, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1002/ 9780470523650.ch32
Pamukcu S, Hannum L, Wittle JK “Delivery and Activation of Nano-iron by DC Electric Field,” J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part A, 43:8, 934-944, 2008. https://doi.org/10.1080/10934520801974483
Pamukcu S, Akbulut S, “Thermoelastic Enhancement of Damping of Sand Using Granular Synthetic Rubber,” J. Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Eng., ASCE 132(4), 501–510, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2006)132:4(501)
Akbulut S, Hasiloglu S, Pamukcu S, “Data Generation for Shear Modulus and Damping Ratio in Reinforced Sands Using Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 24(11), 805-814, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2004.04.006
Pamukcu S, Weeks A, Wittle JK, “Enhanced Reduction of Cr (VI) by Direct Electric Current in a Contaminated Clay,” Environmental Science and Technology, ACS, 38(4), 1236-1241, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1021/es034578v
Pervizpour M, Pamukcu S, Moo-Young H, “Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Porous Media,” J. Comput. Civ. Eng., ASCE 13(2), 96–102, 1999. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0887-3801(1999)13:2(96)
Kershaw D, Kulik B, Pamukcu S, “Ground Rubber: Sorption Media for Ground Water Containing Benzene and O-Xylene,” J. Geotech. Geoenvi. Eng., ASCE 123(4), 324–334; 1997. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(1997)123:4(324)
Pamukcu S, Weeks A, Wittle JK, “Electrochemical extraction and stabilization of selected inorganic species in porous media,” J. of Hazardous Materials, 55(1-3), 305–318, 1997. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3894(97)00025-3
Chang FT, Lennon GP, Pamukcu S, Carson B, “Modeling of Fluid Expulsion and Deformation Behavior of Dewatering Sediments,” Int. J. for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, 17 (8), 531-551, 1993. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.1610170802
Pamukcu S, Wittle JK, “Electrokinetic Removal of Selected Heavy Metals from Soil,” Environmental Progress, AIChE, 11(3), 241-250, 1992. https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.670110323
Seed HB, Chaney RC, Pamukcu S, “Earthquake Effects on Soil-Foundation Systems,” Foundation Engineering Handbook. Springer, Boston, MA., ed. Fang HY, 1991. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3928-5_16
Winterkorn HF, Pamukcu S, “Soil Stabilization and Grouting,” Foundation Engineering Handbook. Springer, Boston, MA., ed. Fang HY, 1991. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3928-5_9
Pamukcu S, “Shear Modulus of Soft Marine Clays,” J. of Offshore Mechanics & Arctic Engineering, ASME, 111(4), 265-272, 1989. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3257094
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