Environmental Chemistry & Pollutant Analysis

Members of the faculty have made important contributions to the field of environmental chemistry, especially in the areas of oxidation and complexation reactions in homogeneous aqueous systems, chemical analysis of organic oxidation byproducts in water, and measurement of VOC emissions from hazardous waste sites and POTWs. Fundamental research such as this is often conducted in parallel with applied studies. For example, a study supported by the USEPA showed that ozone would react with natural organic matter altering its complexation capacity for calcium and aluminum. This work was conducted in parallel with alum coagulation studies of colored surface waters, demonstrating the practical implications of the fundamental work.

Associated Faculty

Many EWRE projects have strong environmental chemstry components as well as applications in the area of drinking water treatment. For this reason, some of these project appear in both research areas.

Example Research Projects

• Use of Ferrate in Small Drinking Water Treatment Systems, (David Reckhow & John Tobiason) US Environmental Protection Agency, 12/2011-11/2014.
• Assessment of Unregulated Disinfection Byproducts in Philadelphia’s Water, (David Reckhow) Philadelphia Water Department, 10/2012-6/2013
• On-Line NOM Characterization: Advanced Techniques for Controlling DBPs and for Monitoring Changes in NOM under Future Climate Change Scenarios, (David Reckhow), Water Research Foundation, NYC DEP and Hazen & Sawyer, 9/2012-1/2014
• Development of a Chemical Treatment Model for Desalting Membrane Residuals (Kenneth Mercer and John Tobiason), National Water Research Institute - Cargill Fellowship, Switzer Foundation Fellowship, 09/05 - 08/08.
• Optimizing the Generation and Capacity of Adsorptive Sites on Oxide Surfaces for Manganese Control (John Tobiason and William Knocke (VA Tech)), American Water Works Association Research Foundation, 01/04 – 10/07.
• Risk Based Prioritization of Disinfection Byproducts (Richard Bull, David A. Reckhow), Am. Wat. Wrks. Assn. Research Foundation
• Characterization of TOX Produced During Disinfection Processes (David A. Reckhow and Patrick Hatcher, PIs) American Water Works Association Research Foundation
• Watershed Sources and Long-term Variability of BDOC and NOM as Precursors (David A. Reckhow, Paula L. Rees, Klaus Nuesslein) Am. Wat. Wrks. Assn. Research Foundation
• Evaluation of NOM and DBP Precursors in SWSC West Parish Raw Water Sources, (David A. Reckhow & John E. Tobiason) Springfield Water and Sewer Commission
• Chloramination Feasibility Planning Study (David A. Reckhow & John E. Tobiason) Hazen & Sawyer Engineering, City of New York
• Establishing Guidelines for the Use of Ozone-GAC for Control of Endocrine Disruptors and Related Compounds in Water, (David A. Reckhow & Kathleen Arcaro) Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection