Sookie S. Bang
Personal Information
Born: Unknown
Country of Birth: Korea
Nationality: Korean/American
Ethnicity: Asian
Education
Seoul National University BS & MS Biology, Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering 1974; University of California at Davis PhD Microbiology 1981;
"None found"
— Sookie S. Bang
Professional Life
Field of Study: Bioremediation
Institution/Corporation: south Dakota School of Mines & Technology
Degrees & Memberships: Member: AIChE
Awards & Achievements
Awards: None found
Achievements: she & Shannon Stocks-Fischer, a graduate student in chemical engineering, invented a process that induces bacteria to create a natural, environmentally friendly cement that can be used to repair faults in rock & concrete from the inside out; worked with Dr. Venkataswamy Ramakrishnan to develop genetically engineered microorganisms that can produce excess amounts of organic and inorganic biosealant;
she & her team mix two common types of soil bacteria, Bacillus pasteurii and Sporosarcina ureae, with sand and “feed” the bacteria a rich solution containing both urea and calcium chloride; after using up the supply of nutrients, the bacteria die, but by that time, the calcium carbonate has crystalized the sand into solid limestone
when perfected, her process for creating & fixing limestone is expected to be used to restore such monuments as the foundation of the empire State Building & Mt. Rushmore
was employed at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology beginning in 1985 & held NSF grants there almost continuously from 1995 to 2008