PFAS surface interaction mechanism
Machine Learning prediction of partitioning coefficient (Kd)
Elevated Temperature Landfill
New Emerging Water ContaminantsPer- and Polyfluoalkyl Substances (PFAS), such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), have drawn great attention due to their wide distribution in natural and built environments. Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and some state agencies announced several actions regarding PFAS, such as evaluation of a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for some PFAS compounds, and designation of some PFAS as “hazardous substances” through potentially CERCLA (commonly known as “Superfund”). As a result, an increase of enforcement regarding PFAS is expected on both state and federal levels in the near future. Fate and transport of PFAS in natural and engineered environments is being studied, treatment technologies are being developed.
NC A&T Seed Fund |
Water Infrastructure Resilience
Multiple hurricanes in 2017 revealed the vulnerability of water infrastructure near the Gulf Coast. Incidents include: i) large-area flooding, ii) chemical spill/explosion, and iii) water supply outage. Under the circumstance that flooding may carry and mix chemical contaminants with source water, water infrastructure is greatly vulnerable, and public health and productivity of the local industry are under high risk. To enhance the resilience of water infrastructure of mid-sized cities under natural disasters: 1) the fate and transport of hazardous chemicals in natural waterways, and 2) emergent treatment strategies for WTPs, towards an universally adaptable contingency plan.
National Science Foundation abstract |
Refractory Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM)
DOM is a complex matrix and a key component in aquatic environments, such as sediment, source water, it can also be found in engineered systems, such as industrial wastewater. Experimental methodologies were developed to quantify and characterize NOM to address multiple environmental issues, including disinfection by-products in drinking water, and ultraviolet (UV) quenching in industrial wastewater. In addition, treatment techniques, such as advanced oxidation processes (AOP), membrane separation, carbon adsorption, etc., were evaluated regarding both treatment performance and cost effectiveness.
Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF), Waste Management National Service. |
Nutrients Removal and Management
Short-cut Biological nutrient removal (BNR)
Deammonification, a combination of partial nitrification and ANAMMOX, is a revolutionary biological nitrogen removal technology. Compared with conventional nitrification-denitrification, it saves 60% of O2, 100% of external carbon source, 50% of alkalinity and produce only 55% CO2 and 10% of excess sludge.
Veolia Water |
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Refractory Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (rDON)
To further reduce total amount of nitrogen and address more stringent regulations, spectroscopic approaches are employed to identify source and chemical properties of DON species, which can be valuable reference for treatment alternatives selection, modeling calibration and regulations.
Research Enhancement Grant (REG) LU |
Pilot-scale IFAS - SBR
The integrated fixed film and activated sludge (IFAS) process has been widely applied to meet more stringent organics and nitrogen discharge limits. However, very few studies have been conducted for application of IFAS process in sequencing batch reactors (SBR). My study coupled the IFAS process with SBR operation in a pilot-scale reactor, verified the feasibility of IFAS-SBR combination and observed the process performance. Organic nitrogen characterization.
Veolia Water |
Elevated Temperature Landfills (ETLFs)
ETLF is a new emerging issue of the solid waste industry. The hypothetical mechanisms include (not limited to): i) pyrolysis, ii) hydrothermal carbonization, iii) anaerobic digestion and iv) metal corrosion, etc. Landfill leachates carry valuable information that can indicate the status of physical, chemical and biochemical activities in landfills. My research compared characteristics of landfill leachates from impacted and non-impacted areas of ETLFs, which can provide profound implication to better understand the ETLF mechanism.
Waste Management National Service |
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