Characterizing the mechanisms of carbonyl compound formation during water reuse

Potable water reuse employs a series of advanced treatment steps to reliably reuse wastewater effluent for drinking. Oxidants (e.g., chlorine and ozone) are frequently added during treatment and can react with different constituents in water, resulting in the formation of undesirable and potentially toxic byproducts. Our lab seeks to identify relevant precursors and track the fate of these byproducts throughout treatment to ensure final product water safety! Specifically, we focus on the formation and fate of low molecular weight carbonyl compounds, like aldehydes and ketones.

Funding source: NSF

Identification and quantification of surfactants and their oxidation byproducts 

Surfactants are frequently detected in wastewater due to their widespread use as antibacterial agents and detergents in industrial and household applications. These surfactants can pose a risk to systems designed for water reuse, especially when additional oxidation can transform parent compounds into new, previously-unidentified byproducts. Our lab hopes to better understanding surfactant transformation and subsequent fate in downstream treatment in systems intended for water reuse.

Funding source: US Bureau of Reclamation