Current Research Interests

Roger Aines is the Energy Program Chief Scientist in E Program, which conducts government and private sector research in clean energy technology. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Carleton College, and Doctor of Philosophy in geochemistry from the California Institute of Technology. 

Roger leads the Carbon Initiative at LLNL, which aims to understand, develop, and implement technologies for the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, so-called negative emissions technologies. He has been at LLNL since 1984 working on nuclear waste disposal, environmental remediation, application of stochastic methods to inversion and data fusion, management of carbon emissions including separation technology, and monitoring and verification methods for sequestration.

Ph.D. Geochemistry, Caltech, 1984

B.S. Chemistry, Carleton College, 1978

Books

Aines, Roger D. Atmospheric Carbon Extraction:Scope, Available Technologies, and Challenges. In V. Ramanathan, (ed) Bending the Curve: Climate Change Solutions. Regents of the University of California (2019)  https://escholarship.org/uc/bending_the_curve_digital_textbook

Aines, Roger D. and Amy L. Aines (2019) Championing Science: Communicating Your Ideas to Decision Makers. Oakland, California: University of California Press, 272 pp.

Journal Articles and Reports

Maxwell Murialdo, Hannah M. Goldstein, Joshuah K. Stolaroff, Du T. Nguyen, Sean T. McCoy, William L. Bourcier, Maira R. Cerón, Jennifer M. Knipe, Matthew A. Worthington, Megan M. Smith, Roger D. Aines, and Sarah E. Baker (2020) Three-Dimensional Printable Sodium Carbonate Composite Sorbents for Efficient Biogas Upgrading. Environmental Science & Technology 2020 54 (11), 6900-6907 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c01755

Du Nguyen, Maxwell Murialdo, Katherine Hornbostel, Simon Pang, Congwang Ye, William Smith, Sarah Baker, William Bourcier, Jennifer Knipe, Roger Aines, and Joshuah Stolaroff (2019) 3D Printed Polymer Composites for CO2 Capture. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 2019 58 (48), 22015-22020 DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.9b04375

Kelemen, PB, R Aines, E Bennett, SM Benson, E Carter, JA Coggon, JC de Obeso, O Evans, G Gadikota, GM Dipple, M Godard, M Harris, JA Higgins, KTM Johnson, F Kourim, R Lafay, S Lambart, CE Manning, JM Matter, K Michibayashi, T Morishita, J Noël, K Okazaki, P Renforth, B Robinson, H Savage, R Skarbek, MW Spiegelman, E Takazawa, D Teagle, JL Urai, J Wilcox (2018) In situ carbon mineralization in ultramafic rocks: Natural processes and possible engineered methods. Energy ProcediaVolume 146, July 2018, Pages 92-102.

Sandalow, David, Roger Aines, Julio Friedmann, Colin McCormick, and Sean McCoy (2017) Carbon Dioxide Utilization (CO2U) ICEF Roadmap 2.0. Prepared to facilitate dialogue at the Fourth Innovation on for Cool Earth Forum (Tokyo October 2017). Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Report, TR739322.

William L. Bourcier, Joshuah K. Stolaroff, Megan M. Smith, and Roger D. Aines (2017) Achieving Supercritical Fluid CO2 Pressures Directly from Thermal Decomposition of Solid Sodium Bicarbonate. Energy Procedia Volume 114, July 2017, Pages 2545-2551

Stoloroff, Joshuah K, Congwang Ye, James S. Oakdale, Sarah E. Baker, William L. Smith, Du T. Nguyen, Christopher M. Spadaccini, and Roger D. Aines (2016) “Microencapsulation of advanced solvents for carbon capture.” Faraday Discussions 192, 217-281. DOI:10.1039/c6fd00049e

Buscheck, TA; Bielicki, JM; White, JA; Sun, Y; Hao, Y; Bourcier, WL; Carroll, SA; Aines, RD  (2016) Pre-injection brine production in CO2 storage reservoirs: An approach to augment the development, operation, and performance of CCS while generating water. International Journal Of Greenhouse Gas Control Volume: 54 Pages: 499-512 Part: 2 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijggc.2016.04.018

Buscheck, Thomas A., Joshua A. White, Susan A. Carroll, Jeffrey M. Bielicki, and Roger D. Aines (2016) Managing Geologic CO2 Storage with Pre-Injection Brine Production: A Strategy Evaluated with a Model of CO2 Injection at Snøhvit. Energy Environ. Sci., 2016, DOI:10.1039/C5EE03648H.

Vericella, John J. Sarah E. Baker, Joshuah K. Stolaroff, Eric B. Duoss, James O. Hardin IV, James Lewicki, Elizabeth Glogowski, William C. Floyd, Carlos A. Valdez, William L. Smith, Joe H. Satcher Jr., William L. Bourcier, Christopher M. Spadaccini, Jennifer A. Lewis, and Roger D. Aines (2015) “Encapsulated Solvents for Carbon Dioxide Capture” Nature Communications 6, Article number: 6124doi:10.1038/ncomms7124 Published 05 February 2015

Buscheck, Thomas A.; White, Joshua A.; Chen, Mingjie; Aines, Roger D. (2014) “Pre-Injection Brine Production for Managing Pressure in Compartmentalized CO2 Storage Reservoirs” Energy Procedia Volume: 63 Pages: 5333-5340

Kulik, Heather J., Wong, Sergio E., Baker, Sarah E., Valdez, Carlos A., Satcher, Joe H. Jr., Aines, Roger D.,  Lightstone, Felice C. (2014) “Developing an approach for first-principles catalyst design: application to carbon-capture catalysis” Acta Crystallographica Section C-Crystal Structure Communications  Volume: 70   Special Issue: Si   Pages: 123-131   Part: 2    

Floyd, William Clary, Sarah E Baker, Carlos A. Valdez, Joshuah K. Stolaroff, Joe H. Satcher, Jane P Bearinger, and Roger D Aines (2013) “Evaluation of a Carbonic Anhydrase Mimic for Industrial Carbon Capture” Environmental Science and Technology 47(17) 10049-10055  DOE: 10.1021/es401336f Publication Date (Web): 24 Jul 2013.

Kim, J., A. Maiti, L.-C. Lin, J. K. Stolaroff, B. Smit, and RD Aines, (2013) “New Materials For Methane Capture From Dilute And Medium-Concentration Sources” Nature Communications 10.1038/ncomms2697.

Koziol, Lucas,  Essiz, SG , Wong, SE , Lau, EY , Satcher, JH,  Aines, RD  Lightstone, FC (2013) “Computational Analysis of a Zn-Bound Tris(imidazolyl) Calix[6]arene Aqua Complex: Toward Incorporating Second-Coordination Sphere Effects into Carbonic Anhydrase Biomimetics” Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, Volume: 9   Issue: 3   Pages: 1320-1327.

Lau, Edmond Y., Sergio E. Wong, Sarah E. Baker, Jane P. Bearinger, Lucas Koziol, Carlos A. Valdez, Joseph H. Satcher, Jr., Roger D. Aines, Felice C. Lightstone (2013) “Comparison and Analysis of Zinc and Cobalt-Based Systems as Catalytic Entities for the Hydration of Carbon Dioxide” PLoS ONE 8(6): e66187.

Rau, Greg H., Susan A. Carroll, William L. Bourcier, Michael J. Singleton, Megan M. Smith, Roger D. Aines (2013) “Direct Electrolytic Dissolution of Silicate Minerals for Air CO2 Mitigation and Carbon-Negative H2 Production” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 05/2013.

Stolaroff, Joshuah K., Subarna Bhattacharyya, Clara A. Smith, William L. Bourcier, Philip J. Cameron-Smith, and Roger D. Aines (2012) “Review of Methane Mitigation Technologies with Application to Rapid Release of Methane from the Arctic”   Environmental Science and Technology, 46 (12), pp 6455–6469.

Koziol, Lucas, Carlos A. Valdez, Sarah E. Baker, Edmond Y. Lau, William C. Floyd, III, Sergio E. Wong, Joe H. Satcher, Jr., Felice C. Lightstone, and Roger D. Aines (2012) “Toward a Small Molecule, Biomimetic Carbonic Anhydrase Model: Theoretical and Experimental Investigations of a Panel of Zinc(II) Aza-Macrocyclic Catalyst” Inorganic Chemistry, 51 (12), pp 6803–6812.

Buscheck, Thomas A. Yunwei Sun, Mingjie Chen, Yue Hao, Thomas J Wolery, William L Bourcier, Benjamin Court, Michael A Celia, S. Julio Friedmann, and Roger D Aines,  (2012) “Active CO2 Reservoir Management For Carbon Storage: Analysis Of Operational Strategies To Relieve Pressure Buildup And Improve Injectivity” International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Volume 6, Pages 230–245.

Socolow, R., M. Desmond, R. Aines, J. Blackstock, O. Bolland, T. Kaarsberg, N. Lewis, M. Mazzotti, A. Pfeffer, K. Sawyer, J. Siirola, B. Smit, J. Wilcox, “Direct Air Capture of CO2 with Chemicals,” A Technology Assessment by the APS Panel on Public Affairs, 2011.

Bourcier, W.L., T.J. Wolery, T. Wolfe, C. Haussmann, T.A. Buscheck, R.D. Aines (2011) A Preliminary Cost And Engineering Estimate For Desalinating Produced Formation Water Associated With Carbon Dioxide Capture And Storage. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control (2011) 5 (5) 1319-1328.

Maiti , A., W.L. Bourcier, R.D. Aines (2011) Atomistic Modeling Of CO2 Capture In Primary And Tertiary Amines – Heat Of Absorption And Density Changes. Chemical Physics Letters 509 (2011) 25–28

Carroll, Susan, Yue Hao and Roger Aines (2009) Geochemical Detection Of Carbon Dioxide In Dilute Aquifers. Geochemical Transactions 2009, 10:4.

Simon, A.J.  Naluahi B. Kaahaaina, S. Julio Friedmann, Roger D. Aines (2009) “Systems Analysis And Cost Estimates For Large Scale Capture Of Carbon Dioxide From Air” Energy Procedia, 4, 2893-2900.

Ramirez, A.L., J. J. Nitao, W. G. Hanley, R.D. Aines, R. E. Glaser, S. K. Sengupta, K. M. Dyer, T. L. Hickling, W. D. Daily (2005) “Stochastic Inversion Of Electrical Resistivity Changes Using A Markov Chain Monte Carlo Approach” Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth (1978–2012) Volume 110, Issue B2, February 2005.

Delle Monache, Luca, Julie K. Lundquist, Branko Kosovic´, Gardar Johannesson, Kathleen M. Dyer, Roger D. Aines, Fotini K. Chow, Rich D. Belles, William G. Hanley, Shawn C. Larsen, Gwen A. Loosmore, John J. Nitao, Gayle A. Sugiyama, Philip J. Vogt. “Bayesian Inference And Markov Chain Monte Carlo Sampling To Reconstruct A Contaminant Source On A Continental Scale.” Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, Volume 47, 2600.

Recent US Patents

Aines, Roger D., William L. Bourcier, Eric B. Duoss, Jeffery James Roberts, Christopher M. Spadaccini, and Joshuah K. Stolaroff. 9,862,880 Encapsulated Proppants. Issued January 9, 2018.

William L. Bourcier, Roger D. Aines, Sarah E. Baker, Eric B. Duoss, Amitesh Maiti, Jeffery J. Roberts, Christopher M. Spadaccini, Joshuah K. Stolaroff, John J. Vericella, Jennifer A. Lewis, James O. Hardin, IV, William C. Floyd, III, 9821287 Systems for production of polymer encapsuated solids.

Roberts, Jeffery James, Aines Roger D,. Duoss, Eric B., Spadaccini, Christopher M., Vandersall, Kevin S.  9,562,426 Encapsulated Microenergetic Material. Issued February 17, 2017.

Aines; Roger D., Bourcier; William L., Duoss; Eric B., Floyd, III; William C., Spadaccini; Christopher M., Vericella; John J., Cowan; Kenneth Michael. 9,416,619 Cementing a wellbore using cementing material encapsulated in a shell. Issued August 16, 2016.

Eddie Scott, Roger Aines, Chris Spadaccini Encapsulated Microsensors for Reservoir Interrogation US Patent 9,416,619 issued  March 8, 2016.

Roberts; Jeffery, Aines; Roger D., Duoss; Eric B., Spadaccini; Christopher M. 8,877,506 Methods and systems using encapsulated tracers and chemicals for reservoir interrogation and manipulation. Issued November 4, 2014.

Floyd, William C. III, Carlos A. Valdez, Roger D. Aines, Sarah Baker and Joe H. Satcher. 9,259,725 Acyclic Aza-Containing Ligands For Use As Catalytic Carbon Capture Systems. Issued Feb 16, 2016 

Lightstone, Felice C., Sergio E. Wong; Edmond Y. Lau; Joe H. Satcher Jr., and Roger D. Aines. Synthetic catalysts that separate CO2 from the atmosphere and gas mixtures. Issued February 24, 2015 US 8,962,511

Aines; Roger D., Bourcier; William L. ,Spadaccini; Christopher M., Stolaroff; Joshuah K.  8,945,279 Polymer-encapsulated carbon capture liquids that tolerate precipitation of solids for increased capacity. Issued February 3, 2015.

Valdez, Carlos A., Joe H. Satcher Jr., Roger D. Aines,   Sergio E. Wong, Sarah E. Baker, Felice C. Lightstone, and Joshuah K. Stolaroff.  Tethered Catalysts for the Hydration of Carbon Dioxide 8,877,069 Issued Nov 4, 2014

Aines, Roger D., Christopher M. Spadaccini  Joshuah K. Stolaroff  William L. Bourcier   Jennifer A. Lewis  Eric B. Duoss  John J. Vericella  Separation of a target substance from a fluid or mixture using encapsulated sorbents. Issued 9/16/2014 US 8,834,605

Aines, Roger D. and William L. Bourcier. 8,808,433 Carbon Ion Pump For Removal Of Carbon Dioxide From Combustion Gas And Other Gas Mixtures. Issued August 19, 2014.

Bourcier, William L., Roger D. Aines, Jeffrey Haslam, Charlene Schaldach, Kevin C. Obrien, and Edward Cussler. 8,460,532 Deionization And Desalination Using Electrostatic Ion Pumping.

Valdez, Carlos A., Joe H. Satcher,  Roger D Aines, Sarah E. Baker. 8,394,351 Synthesis of Triazole-Based and Imidazole-Based Zinc Catalysts.

Aines, Roger D. 8,992,845 Catalyst Functionalized Buffer Sorbent Pebbbles for Rapid Separation of Carbon Dioxide from Gas Mixtures.

Aines, Roger D, William L. Bourcier, and Brian Viani. 8,361,195 Slurried Solid Media for Simultaneous Water Purification and Carbon Dioxide Removal from Gas Mixtures.