Introduction
Faculty and Research
Technology Transfer
Collaborating Groups
Publications

Introduction
The Water Reclamation and Reuse Laboratory (WR2 Lab) brings students and faculty at the University of Florida face-to-face with the challenges of purifying wastewater for irrigation, power generation, lake management, and myriad other reuse applications. Located within the Administration Building of the UF Water Reclamation Facility, the Laboratory includes space for chemistry, microbiology, control, and pilot plant activities. Scientific equipment includes anaerobic hood, autoclave, biochemical fermenters, computer controlled fermentor sampling system, -80C freezer, refrigerated high-speed centrifuge, deionized water system, eppifluoresence microscope, shaking incubators, high intensity ultrisonicator, and solar ultraviolet light reactor.

Faculty and Research
Faculty engaged at the WR2 Lab include Dr. Ben Koopman from Environmental Engineering Sciences, Dr. Spyros Svoronos from Chemical Engineering, and Drs. Brij Moudgil, Ronald Baney and Wolfgang Sigmund from Materials Science and Engineering. Laboratory classes are taught at the WR2 Lab as part of the Process Engineering Megacourse taught jointly by the Departments of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering Sciences. The laboratory modules of the Megacourse help students learn to improve processes using biological treatment as a model.

Research topics address new and emerging problems that must be solved to ensure that enough clean water is available to meet our growing needs. Recent projects at the WR2L include

Diauxic lag of denitrifying bacteria switching between aerated and nonaerated conditions
Enhanced microbe removal from wastewater using surface-modified filter media
Genetic engineering of denitrifying bacteria
Microbe inactivation using silanols
Nitrogen removal from wastewater by addition of bittern
Nitrite inhibition of aerobic growth of Acinetobacter
Online modeling, optimization, and control of wastewater treatment processes
Phosphorus removal by activated oyster shells
Phosphorus removal from wastewater using surface-modified filter media
Photocatalytic disinfection of wastewater using novel nanocomposites

Technology Transfer
Through its partnership with the UF Center for Training and Research in Environmental Engineering Occupations, the WR2 Lab has actively worked to transfer technology by holding joint seminars, workshops, and training classes. Examples include · A seminar series on Biological Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal: the Florida Experience · Workshops on Troubleshooting and Optimizing Wastewater Treatment Systems for Small Communities: Biological Nutrient Removal Facilities · Training classes on Design of Facilities for Nutrient Removal, and · Development of the Sequencing Batch Reactors Operations and Troubleshooting Manual for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. WR2 Lab faculty are also active in publishing their research results in scientific journals. A list of these articles is given at the bottom of this page.

Collaborating Groups
The WR2 Lab benefits from close cooperation with the UF Water Reclamation Facility and the UF Physical Plant Division. The Departments of Environmental Engineering Sciences and Chemical Engineering and the Particle Engineering Research Center have provided equipment and loaned staff to help with equipment installation and maintenance. The WR2 Lab is directed by the College of Engineering Academic Interface Committee.

Publications

Hamilton, R., Braun, B., Koopman, B. and Svoronos, S.A. (2008) Estimation of nitrate reductase enzyme parameters in activated sludge using an extended Kalman filter algorithm. Accepted for publication in Water Research.

Lee, D.-U., Woo, S.-H., Svoronos, S.A., Park, S.-J. and Koopman, B. (2008) Apparatus and method for achieving reproducible measurements of diauxic lag length and anoxic net maximum specific growth rate. Accepted for publication in Environmental Technology.

Zhao, J., Krishna, V., Moudgil, B. and Koopman, B. (2008) Evaluation of alternative spore purification methods. Accepted for publication in Separation and Purification Technology.

Krishna, V., Yanes, D., Imaram, W., Angerhofer, A., Koopman, B., and Moudgil, B. (2008) Mechanism of enhanced photocatalysis with polyhydroxy fullerenes. Accepted for publication in Applied Catalysis B, Environmental.

Park, S.J., Yoon, J.C., Shin, K.S., Kim, E.H., Yim, S., Cho, Y.J., Sung, G.M., Lee, D.G., Kim, S.B., Lee, D.U., Woo, S.E., and Koopman, B. (2007) Dominance of endospore-forming bacteria on a rotating activated Bacillus contactor biofilm for advanced wastewater treatment. The Journal of Microbiology 45, 2, 113–121.

Casasús, A.I., Lee, D.-U., Hamilton, R.K., Svoronos, S.A., and Koopman, B. (2007) Effect of carbon Substrate on electron acceptor diauxic lag and anoxic maximum specific growth rate in species with and without periplasmic enzyme. Accepted for publication in Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A.

Krishna, V., Noguchi, N., Koopman, B., and Moudgil, B. (2006) Enhancement of Titanium Dioxide Photocatalysis by Water-soluble Fullerenes. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 304 , 166–171.

Hamilton, R., Braun, B., Dare, R., Koopman, B., and Svoronos, S.A. (2006) Control issues and challenges in wastewater treatment plants. IEEE Control Systems Magazine 26, 4, 63–69.

Hamilton, R., Casasús-Zambrana, A., Svoronos, S.A., and Koopman, B. (2005) An inexpensive method for the automation of biomass measurements in lab-scale bioreactors. Journal of the Association for Laboratory Automation 10, 5, 315–318.

Krishna, V., Pumprueg, S., Lee, S.-H., Zhao, J., Sigmund, W., Koopman, B. and Moudgil, B. (2005) Photocatalytic disinfection with titanium dioxide coated multi-wall carbon nanotubes. Process Safety and Environmental Protection 83, B4, 1-5.

Casasús, A., Hamilton, R., Svoronos, S., and Koopman, B. (2005) A simple model for diauxic growth of denitrifying bacteria. Water Research 39, 1914-1920.

Lee, C.W., Koopman, B., et al. (2005) Phosphate recovery from water as hydroxyapatite with activated oyster shell. Materials Science Forum 486-487, 177-180.

Hamilton, R., Casasús, A., Rasche, M., Narang, A., Svoronos, S., and Koopman, B. (2005) A structured model for denitrifier diauxic growth. Bioengineering & Biotechnology 90, 4, 501-508.

Weon, S.Y., Lee, S.I., and Koopman, B. (2004) Effect of temperature and dissolved oxygen on biological nitrification at high ammonia concentrations. Environmental Technology 25, 1211-1219.

Shaw, K., Dempere, A., and Koopman, B. (2004) Effect of iron aluminum (hydr)oxide coating on removal of Cryptosporidium oocysts from water by adsorption to electronegative and electropositive materials. In US-Egypt Workshop on Advances in Science and Technology of Treatment and Utilization of Industrial Wastes, June 6-10, 2004, Cairo, Egypt.

Lee, D.-U., Casasús-Zambrana, A., Hamilton, R, Svoronos, S., Lee, S.-I. and Koopman, B. (2004) Significance of denitrifying enzyme dynamics in biological nitrogen removal processes: a simulation study. Water Science & Technology 49, 5-6, 265-274.

Weon, S.Y., Koopman, B., and Lee, S.I (2004) Effects of toxicants on nitrifying biomass in flocs vs. carriers. Environmental Technology 25, 193-200.

Kwon, H.B., Lee, C.W., Jun, B.S., Yun, J.D., Weon, S.Y., and Koopman, B. (2004) Recycling waste oyster shells for eutrophication control. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 41, 75-82.

Lee, S.I., Weon, S.Y., Lee, C.W., and Koopman, B. (2003) Removal of nitrogen and phosphate from wastewater by addition of bittern. Chemosphere 51, 265-271.

Scott, T.M., Sabo, R.C., Lukasik, J., Boice, C., Shaw, K., Barroso-Giachetti, L., El-Shall, H., Farrah, S.R., Park, C., Moudgil, B., Koopman, B. (2002) Performance and cost-effectiveness of ferric and aluminum hydrous metal oxide coating on filter media to enhance virus removal. KONA 20, 159-167.

Weon, S.Y., Lee, C.W., Lee, S.I., and Koopman, B. (2002) Nitrite inhibition of aerobic growth of Acinetobacter sp. Water Research 36, 4471-4476.

Lisbon, K.,McKean, M., Shekar, S., Svoronos, S.A., Koopman, B. (2002) Effect of DO on oxic/anoxic diauxic lag of P. denitrificans. Journal of Environmental Engineering 128, 391-394.

Ayoub, G.M. , Koopman, and Pandya, N. (2001) Iron and Aluminum Hydroxy (Oxide) Coated Filter Media for Low Concentration Phosphorus Removal. Water Environment Research 73, 478-485.

Gouw, M., Bozic, R., Koopman, B., and Svoronos, S.A. (2001) Effect of nitrate exposure history on the oxygen / nitrate diauxic growth of Pseudomonas denitrificans. Water Research 35, 2794-2798.

Ayoub, G.M., Semerjian, L., Acra, A., El Fadel, M., and Koopman, B. (2001) Heavy metal removal by coagulation with seawater liquid bittern. Journal of Environmental Engineering 127, 196-207.

Shaw, K., Walker, S., and Koopman, B. (2000) Improving filtration of Cryptosporidium. Journal American Water Works Association 92, 103-111.

Ayoub, GM; Merhebi, F; Acra, A; El-Fadel, M; Koopman, B (2000) Seawater bittern for the treatment of alkalized industrial effluents. Water Research 34, 2, 640-656.

Liu, P.H., Svoronos, S.A., and Koopman, B. (1998) Experimental and modeling study of diauxic lag of Pseudomonas denitrificans switching from oxic to anoxic conditions. Biotechnology & Bioengineering 60, 649-655.

Liu, P.H., Zhan, G., Svoronos, S.A., and Koopman, B. (1998) Diauxic lag from changing electron acceptors in activated sludge treatment. Water Research 32, 3452-3460.

Potter, T.G., Tseng, C.-C., and Koopman, B. (1998) Nitrogen removal in a partial nitrification/complete denitrification process. Water Environment Research 70, 334-342.

Chen, J., Truesdail, S., Lu, F., Zhan, G., Belvin, C., Koopman, B., Farrah, S., and Shah, D. (1998) Long-term evaluation of aluminum hydroxide-coated sand for removal of bacteria from wastewater. Water Research 32, 2171-2179.

Küçükçolak, E., Koopman, B., Bitton, G., and Farrah, S. (1998) Validity of fluorochrome-stained bacteria as tracers of short-term microbial transport through porous media. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 31, 349-357..

Chen, J. and Koopman, B. (1997) Effect of fluorochromes on bacterial surface-properties and interaction with granular media. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 63, 10, 3941-3945.

Tseng, C.C., Potter, T.G., and Koopman, B. (1997) Effect of influent chemical oxygen demand to nitrogen ratio on a partial nitrification/complete denitrification process. Water Research 32, 165-173.

Watts, R.W., Svoronos, S.A., and Koopman, B. (1997) Authors' reply to comment on "One-dimensional modeling of secondary clarifiers using a concentration and feed velocity-dependent dispersion coefficient" by R.W. Watts, S.A. Svoronos, and B. Koopman, Water Research 31, 2118-2119.

Svoronos, S.A. and Koopman, Ben (1997) Comment on "A new approach for the evaluation of the maximum specific growth rate in nitrification" by S. Sözen, D. Orhon and H.A. San, Water Research 31, 2120-2125.

Watts, Randall W., Svoronos, Spyros A., and Koopman, Ben (1996) One-dimensional clarifier model with sludge blanket heights. Journal of Environmental Engineering 122, 1094-1100.

Watts, R.W., Svoronos, S.A., and Koopman, B. (1996) One-dimensional modeling of secondary clarifiers using a concentration and feed velocity-dependent dispersion coefficient. Water Research 30, 2112-2124.

Potter, T.G., Koopman, B., and Svoronos, S. (1996) Optimization of a periodic biological process for nitrogen removal from wastewater. Water Research 30, 142-152.