A5043840981- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Membrane Separation Technologies
- Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications
- Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- TiO2 Photocatalysis and Solar Cells
- Supercapacitor Materials and Fabrication
- Water and Wastewater Treatment
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Advanced Nanomaterials in Catalysis
- Water Treatment and Disinfection
- Nanomaterials for catalytic reactions
- Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment
- Marine Toxins and Detection Methods
- Environmental Engineering and Cultural Studies
- Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
- Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications
University of Iowa
2015-2021
Southern Nevada Water Authority
2018-2021
Iowa City Public Library
2021
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanofibers with tailored structure and composition were synthesized by electrospinning to optimize photocatalytic treatment efficiency. Nanofibers of controlled diameter (30-210 nm), crystal (anatase, rutile, mixed phases), grain size (20-50 nm) developed along composite either surface-deposited or bulk-integrated Au nanoparticle cocatalysts. Their reactivity was then examined in batch suspensions toward model (phenol) emerging (pharmaceuticals, personal care...
The evolving demands of drinking water treatment necessitate processes capable removing a diverse suite contaminants. Biofiltration can employ biotransformation and sorption to remove various classes chemicals from water. Here, pilot-scale virgin anthracite-sand previously used biological activated carbon (BAC)-sand dual media filters were operated for ∼250 days assess removals 0.4 mg/L ammonia as nitrogen, 50-140 μg/L manganese, ∼100 ng/L each trace organic compounds (TOrCs) spiked into...
Early detection of harmful cyanobacterial blooms allows identification potential risk and appropriate selection treatment techniques to prevent exposure in recreational water bodies drinking supplies. Here, luminescence-based adenosine triphosphate (ATP) analysis was applied monitor treat cultured naturally occurring cyanobacteria cells. When evaluating lab-cultured Microcystis aeruginosa, ATP concentrations (≤252,000 pg/mL) had improved sensitivity correlated well (R2 = 0.969) with optical...
Algicides, like hydrogen peroxide and copper sulfate, are commonly applied to recreational waters drinking water sources mitigate cyanobacterial blooms. In this work, the effects of sulfate were evaluated in two natural bloom samples (collected from Canadian American waterbodies) one lab-cultured Microcystis aeruginosa suspended Colorado River water. Five algicide dissolved organic carbon (DOC) dose ratios during an initial exposure period 24 h. One ratio (0.4 H2O2:DOC or 0.25 CuSO4:DOC) was...
Oxidation processes can provide an effective barrier to eliminate cyanotoxins by damaging cyanobacteria cell membranes, releasing intracellular cyanotoxins, and subsequently oxidizing these toxins (now in extracellular form) based on published reaction kinetics. In this work, cells from two natural blooms (from the United States Canada) a laboratory-cultured Microcystis aeruginosa strain were treated with chlorine, monochloramine, chlorine dioxide, ozone, potassium permanganate. The release...
Functionalized nanomaterials hold tremendous promise for water treatment because their high surface area makes them ideal sorbents pollutants like heavy metal ions that are pervasive in global supplies.
Standardization and validation of alternative cell lysis methods used for quantifying total cyanotoxins is needed to improve laboratory response time goals cyanotoxin analysis. In this study, five (i.e., probe sonication, microwave, freeze-thaw, chemical with Abraxis QuikLyseTM, copper sulfate) were assessed using laboratory-cultured Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) cells. Methods evaluated destruction cells (as determined by optical density the sample) recovery microcystin-LR (MC-LR)...
Electrospun carbon nanofibers with integrated titanium dioxide nanoparticles are used for water treatment in a photoactive membrane filtration system.