Shilai Hao
We work on keeping “forever chemicals” out of our water — and we’ve shown they can be destroyed, not just moved around. I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech. My group studies the fate and transport of contaminants of emerging concern — especially per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — and develops practical, affordable ways to remove and destroy these persistent pollutants. We pair interdisciplinary thinking with advanced analytical tools such as liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) to protect water resources and public health. I also teach undergraduate and graduate courses on water quality.
Research Directions
Emerging Contaminants of Concern (CECs). Detection and treatment of PFAS and other persistent pollutants across both natural and engineered systems.
Resource Recovery from Waste. Designing processes to recover valuable materials — including lithium and rare earth elements (REEs) — from end-of-life sources such as spent lithium-ion batteries and solar panels.
Environmental Analytical Chemistry. Advancing environmental analysis through improved sample preparation and methods, including total organic halogen (TOX) analysis.
Read more about our research → · Join the lab →
Contact
📧 shilai@vt.edu · 1880 Pratt Dr, Room 1120B, Blacksburg, VA 24061