Thomas Sale, PhD

Research and consulting activities are focused on anthropogenic releases of contaminants to subsurface environments and their subsequent transport, fate, and management. Specific areas of interest are pragmatic expectations for Nonaqueous Phase Liquid (NAPL) remedies and passive strategies for management of NAPL releases.

Dr. Sale serves as a share holder and technical advisor for S3NSE technologies, and was a co-inventor for the Fossil Fuel Trap technology that supported the founding of E-Flux by Dr. Julio Zimbron (founder, co-inventor).  He is internationally recognized as an expert authority on light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) science, and his research with the Center of Contaminant Hydrology has created many technological breakthroughs resulting in a paradigm shift for LNAPL site management strategies.  Dr. Sale has authored numerous landmark papers and is the driving force behind patented technologies that have changed the direction of the LNAPL industry. He also contributes to LNAPL projects as a consultant and a regulation policy reviewer.

His research and consulting activities are dedicated to finding solutions for anthropogenic releases of contaminants to subsurface environments and their subsequent transport, fate, and management. Specific areas of interest are pragmatic expectations for Nonaqueous Phase Liquid (NAPL) remedies and passive strategies for management of NAPL releases. His collaborations have changed the LNAPL industry along with developments for remediation for both LNAPL and DNAPL (dense nonaqueous phase liquid).  His inventive mind and collaborative ability has enabled the Center for Contaminant Hydrology to conduct approximately $1.5 million /year in research and support 11 students. Current and recent research sponsors include ExxonMobil, Chevron, Suncor Energy, BP, Shell, CH2M, ARCADIS and the USDoD. He is dedicated to innovative solutions for groundwater contamination and development of groundwater resources.

• US20210109250A1: Devices and methods for measuring temperature, oxidation reduction potential, and water-level within a subsurface formation
• US20200363359A1:  Devices and methods for measuring natural source zone depletion rates
• US10901117B2: Devices and methods for measuring temperature, oxidation reduction potential, and water-level within a subsurface formation
• US20190025138A1, US10094719B2:  Devices and Methods for Measuring Subsurface Thermal Flux and Estimating Subsurface Reactive Material Flux
• US10309177B2:  Cryogenic core collection
• US10112854B2:  Oleophilic bio-barrier for controlling NAPL migration
• CA2843646C, EP2739954B1, WO2013020063A1, AU2012289915B2, US8714034B2:  Gas flux measurement using traps* [Chevron USA Inc]
• US7861601B2:  Measurement of liquid flow in porous media by tracer dilution without continuous mixing* [Chevron Corp]
• US20080112761A1:  In situ remediation of source zones via in situ admixing of contaminated media, chemical oxidants, and stabilizing agents
• US7281435B2:  Measurement of non-aqueous phase liquid flow in porous media by tracer dilution* [Chevron USA Inc]
• US6709567B1:  REDOX water treatment system*

*Assignee other than Colorado State University Research Foundation, or [specifies co-assignee(s)]

Patent list generated using Google Patents