Graduate Seminar Series
Co-hosted by the Florida Water Institute
Friday, April
20, 2007
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Environmental Compliance Management at
the University of Florida
William S. Properzio, PhD
Director, UF Environmental Health and Safety and
Associate Professor, Environmental Engineering Sciences
Abstract
An overview of UF environmental regulatory issues involving the
Federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department
of Environmental Protection will be reviewed. These include issues
covered by the Federal Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments, RCRA
and a FDEP Consent Order.

Friday, April
13, 2007
386 NEB
2:20 pm Reception
2:30 pm 90-Minute Seminar
Design
Alternatives for the Expansion of the South Tampa Area Reclaimed
Project (STAR) in Tampa, Florida
Squadra una, Squadra due and
Squadra tre
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to
develop design
alternatives for the expansion of the STAR system in Tampa
Florida. Aspects of the alternatives to be considered include:
hydraulics (pipe sizing and routing), water quality treatment
locations, and disinfection alternatives. Other considerations of
the study include an analysis of potential users to maximize
conservation, demand management issues, and maintenance issues.
Teams consider variations in demands on a seasonal and long-term
basis when considering these issues.
Background
The City of Tampa produces
approximately 60 million gallons per day of highly treated
reclaimed water at its Howard F. Curren advanced wastewater treatment plant in Tampa, Florida.
Historically, the City has been discharging this effluent into
Tampa Bay and has demonstrated that the water quality of the bay
has improved during this time. However, because of the increasing
stress on the water supply caused by the area's high population
growth, the City has embarked on several programs designed to
conserve the area's valuable water resources. One major program is
to reuse the highly treated reclaimed water from its Howard F.
Curren plant. As part of that program, the City identified the
South Tampa Area as a prime candidate for residential irrigation
using the reclaimed water. In 2005, the first part of the STAR
system was constructed and put into limited service. The City now
wants to expand that STAR system to include new customers and
increase the amount of reuse. The overall goal of the STAR system
is to identify and hookup new customers who will provide the
highest conservation efficiency as well as design a system that is
the most cost-effective.
The designs develop alternatives for the expansion of the system
and base the alternatives on the following major elements:
hydraulics, water quality treatment locations, and disinfection
alternatives. A demand analysis along with hydraulic modeling to
develop the design of the transmission and distribution system
including pipe sizes, pipe materials, and preferred pipe routes is
developed.

Friday, April
6, 2007
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
What is NEON and why should you care?
Dr. John P. Hayes
Abstract
The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is likely to be
the single largest federal initiative in the ecological sciences
that will be undertaken in the next one to two decades. NEON is a
proposed program of ecological observatories spread across the
United States that will be deployed to address major ecological
questions at regional and continental scales. Under NEON, sensor
arrays will be established at 20 core sites distributed from
Puerto Rico to Hawaii to the Alaskan tundra. The current site
identified for NEON in the Southeastern United States is the
Ordway-Swisher Biological Station, managed by the University of
Florida Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and
located approximately 30 miles east of Gainesville. It is likely
that implementation of NEON will begin within the next year. NEON
will bring a wealth of opportunities for environmental studies and
for development of approaches environmental monitoring to the
University of Florida.
John Hayes is a Professor and the Department Chair of the
University of Florida Department of Wildlife Ecology and
Conservation and serves as a regional representative to the NEON
program. His research interests focus on the habitat ecology of
wildlife, and include the influences of spatial scale on habitat
selection, the conservation and ecology of bats, and the
influences of forest management on wildlife.

Friday, March 30, 2007
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Energy for Rural Poor - Challenge for Global Community
Dr. Anil Rajvanshi,
Director, Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute
Phaltan, India
Abstract
This talk will try to sensitize the audience to the ground realities of energy for rural poor; the role of poverty and its consequences for world peace and prosperity. It will also show that improving the life of rural poor gives tremendous mental satisfaction besides making business sense for global economy. Issues discussed will be how sophisticated technology can provide the energy solutions for developing world. Finally, it will show how UF and NARI can work together towards this noble goal.

Friday, March 23, 2007
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
The Nanoscale Research Facility: A Meeting Place for Nanoscale
Science and Technology at UF
Bill Appleton
Director, Nanoscience Institute for Medical and Engineering
Technologies (NIMET)
Abstract
In 2004-2005 the University of Florida (UF) acquired funds from
the State of Florida to construct the Nanoscale Research Facility
(NRF). The NRF was conceived and designed to be an
interdisciplinary, centralized, user facility for research and
education in the area of nanoscale science and technology (NS&T).
It will be available to all faculty, students and collaborators at
UF.
Research in the nanoscale regime of science requires exceptional
facilities and equipment. Fabrication of nanoscale devices and
sensors requires special synthesis and processing equipment that
must be operated in ultra-clean environments such as a class 100
cleanroom. Imaging requires electron microscopes that achieve
atomic resolution, and these in turn require laboratories with
extremely low vibration and electromagnet fields. Highly trained
technical staff are required to train users of the equipment, and
research and office space needs to be tailored to user operations.
Turning nanoscience into nanotechnologies requires a thorough
understanding of the science of small scale, and the ability to
control and manipulate nanostructures.
This talk will review the origins of the Nanoscience Institute for
Medical and Engineering Technologies (NIMET), the capabilities of
the NRF, some of the science opportunities, our efforts to
instrument and staff the facility, and how the user program will
operate.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Please note this seminar will be held in the
Particle Science Center Seminar Room 202.
Particle Science Center Seminar (PERC) Rm 202
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
New Mechanism of Atmospheric Aerosol Formation by the
Interaction of Sulfuric Acid with Organics
Dr. Myoseon Jang
UNC-Chapel Hill, Environmental Sciences and Engineering
Faculty Candidate
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have found that submicron
particulate matter is strongly associated with acute health
effects. As a class, secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is one of
major constituents of ambient smaller particles. SOA is defined
as organic aerosols formed by secondary processes in the
atmosphere, in particular by gas phase reactions of volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) with atmospheric oxidants (e.g., ozone,
OH, and NOx). During the sequential reactions with atmospheric
oxidants, the precursor VOCs are transformed to less volatile
oxygenated products, which can partition on preexisting particles.
This work focuses on the recent investigation suggesting that
atmospheric organics such as aldehydes exposing to submicron
sulfuric acid aerosols lead to significant increases in SOA mass
and build-up of stabilized non-volatile products in aerosols.
The proposed mechanisms for these phenomena are heterogeneous acid
catalyzed reactions of atmospheric organics and the formation of
organic sulfate in aerosols. Sulfuric acid is ubiquitous in the
atmosphere not only in a primary form, such as a component of
exhaustion particles, but also in a secondary form from oxidation
of SO2. The predominance of SOA among fine particles and the
prevalence of sulfur in fossil fuels suggest that interactions
between these sources could be considerable. The extensive
studies using controlled indoor chamber experiments show that the
contribution of heterogeneous reactions to SOA formation is
strongly correlated to particle acidity (humidity and inorganic
composition), types of atmospheric oxidation reactions, and the
molecular structure of oxidation products. Our studies also
focus on the characterization of aerosol and the development of a
new SOA model including both a conventional partitioning process
and the new heterogeneous chemistry in aerosols.
Dr Myoseon Jang is the research assistant professor of the
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the
UNC-Chapel Hill. Dr Jang completed her Ph.D. at the UNC-Chapel
Hill in 1997. She experienced industries as a research scientist
for developing polymer materials and the analytical methods for
drug and environmentally interesting compounds. Dr Jang's
atmospheric research has focused on thermodynamic partitioning
models, SOA formation, heterogeneous acid-catalyzed reactions of
atmospheric organics, aerosol characterization, and nanoparticle
application to exposure studies.
Friday, March 2, 2007
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Characterization of Fine Particle Air Pollution in India
Dr. Zohir Chowdhury
University of California at Berkeley, Environmental Health Sciences
Abstract
This study characterizes the mass and detailed inorganic and
organic chemical composition of fine particle air pollution in
several mega cities in South Asia and quantifies how major sources
impact the observed levels by using Chemical Mass Balance (CMB)
modeling with organic compounds as tracers. Funded by the World
Bank, this type of source apportionment was conducted for the first
time ever in India to help define the relative importance of the
major sources that should be included within an air quality control
program of the country. Chemical tracer source apportionment
techniques are particularly attractive for application in regions
that have not been studied previously because they are able to yield
rapid insights into the causes of a local air pollution problem
before the completion of an accurate emissions inventory. To
complete the source apportionment work, South Asia specific fine
particle source emissions were developed. Five Bangladeshi biomass
(rice straw, coconut leaves, dried cow dung, synthetic biomass log,
and jackfruit wood) and three Asian coals (Bangladeshi, Indian, and
Chinese) were characterized and important source signatures were
identified. The emission profiles and source signatures from these
and other source tests were used to complete the CMB analysis.
Dr.
Zohir Chowdhury is currently a post-doctoral researcher in the
Division of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of
California at Berkeley. He completed his Ph.D. in Atmospheric
Chemistry from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2004 and his M.S.
in Environmental Engineering from California Institute of Technology
in 1999. His research interests are in both outdoor and indoor
particulate matter (PM) characterization in developing countries and
its health effects with emphasis on source apportionment, source
emissions characterization, and development of low-cost PM
instrument and sampling methods.
Friday, February 23, 2007
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Indoor/Outdoor Relationships, Trends and Carbonaceous Content
of Fine Particulate Matter in Retirement Homes of the Los Angeles
Basin
Dr. Andrea Polidori
University of Southern California, Civil and Environmental
Engineering
Abstract
Numerous epidemiological studies have found associations between
atmospheric aerosol concentrations and both acute and chronic
adverse respiratory and cardiovascular effects. Fine particulate
matter (PM2.5) properties and components that are believed to be
responsible for the observed adverse health effects include: mass,
surface area, size, metals, acids, organic compounds, elemental
carbon (EC), sulfate and nitrate salts, peroxides, soot and
bioaerosols. The air quality standards established by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency in 1997 were primarily based upon
epidemiological studies conducted at stationary outdoor monitoring
sites. However, a significant portion of human exposures to PM2.5
occurs indoors where people spend approximately 85-90% of their
time. Thus, understanding the composition, behavior and origin of
indoor PM2.5 is important to exposure characterization and
mitigation. The work presented in this lecture was conducted
within the Cardiovascular Health and Air Pollution Study (CHAPS),
a multi-disciplinary project whose goals are to investigate the
effects of micro-environmental exposures to PM on cardiovascular
outcomes in elderly retirees affected by coronary heart disease
(CHD). During CHAPS hourly indoor and outdoor PM2.5, organic
carbon (OC), EC, particle number (PN), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide
(CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) concentrations were measured at two
different retirement communities in the Los Angeles area and used
to provide new insight into: a) the relationships between indoor
and outdoor PM2.5, its components and their seasonal variations as
well as their association with gaseous co-pollutants, b) the
contributions of primary OC and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) to
measured outdoor OC and c) the relative importance of outdoor and
indoor PM sources to measured indoor OC, EC, PM2.5 and PN
concentrations. The results obtained in this work will be used to
determine personal exposure to outdoor-infiltrated PM2.5 and its
particulate components and to indoor-generated PM2.5 and its
particulate components in elderly retirees with a history of CHD.
Dr. Andrea Polidori is currently a Post-doctoral Research
Associate at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
at the University of Southern California (USC). He completed his
Ph.D. at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, in 2005 and
has been at USC since then. His research has focused on
characterizing the properties, the composition and the mechanisms
of formation of the carbonaceous fraction of PM2.5 in both indoor
and outdoor environments.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Please note this seminar will be held in the
Chemical Engineering Bldg. Room 316 on Monday 2/12
3:00 - 3:50 pm
Chemical Eng. Bldg Rm. 316
Sources of Ambient Organic Aerosol and PM2.5 in Pittsburgh, PA
Dr. R Subramanian
Abstract
In 1997, the USEPA promulgated new air quality standards
regulating ambient particulate matter (PM) smaller than 2.5 m
aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5), as these "fine" particles are
associated with increased health risks. Carbonaceous aerosols are
a major component of PM2.5, and are usually measured as organic
and elemental carbon (OC/EC). Some OC and all of the EC are
emitted directly by anthropogenic and biogenic sources ("primary"
emissions). OC can also be formed in the atmosphere by
gas-to-particle conversion, and is then called secondary organic
aerosol. Quantitative knowledge of the different source
contributions is needed to effectively regulate emissions in order
to meet the PM2.5 standard. In this talk, I shall present
chemical mass balance (CMB) analysis of organic molecular markers
data to investigate the sources of organic aerosol and PM2.5 in
Pittsburgh, PA. The model accounts for emissions from eight
primary source classes, including major anthropogenic sources such
as motor vehicles, cooking, and biomass combustion as well as some
primary biogenic emissions (leaf abrasion products). The
uncertainty associated with selection of source profiles and
fitting species is explicitly considered, while other factors such
as sampling artifacts and photochemical aging are examined as
well.
In the context of the overall organic carbon (OC) mass balance,
the contributions of diesel vehicles, wood-smoke, debris, and
coke-oven emissions are all small and well-constrained; however,
estimates for the contributions of gasoline-vehicle and cooking
emissions can vary by an order of magnitude. A best-estimate
solution is presented that represents the vast majority of the CMB
results; it indicates that primary OC only contributes 27.8% and 50.14% (average standard deviation of daily estimates) of the
ambient OC in the summer and winter respectively. Approximately
two-thirds of the primary OC is transported into Pittsburgh as
part of the regional air mass. The ambient OC that is not
apportioned by the CMB model is well correlated with secondary
organic aerosol (SOA) estimates based on the EC-tracer method as
well as ambient concentrations of organic species associated with
SOA. Therefore, SOA appears to the major component of OC, not
only in the summer, but potentially in all seasons. Primary OC
does dominate the OC mass balance on a small number of non-summer
days with high OC concentrations; these events are associated with
specific meteorological conditions such as local inversions. PM
emissions only contribute a small fraction of the ambient
fine-particle mass, especially in the summer.
Speaker Bio
R Subramanian graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a PhD
in Mechanical Engineering in 2004. This talk presents some
results of his doctoral research as part of the Pittsburgh Air
Quality Study. A two-year stint as a post-doctoral research
associate in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, followed. He
currently works with Droplet Measurement Technologies in Boulder,
Colorado
Friday,
February 9, 2007
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Everything You Wanted To Know About Stormwater Control But Were
Afraid To Ask
John J. Sansalone, Ph. D
Environmental Engineering Sciences
University of Florida
Abstract
Since the passage of the 1972 Clean Water Act, management of
stormwater discharges has advanced from a challenge that was
understood only well enough to realize the difficulties associated
with application of conventional treatment design, to becoming our
most recent water treatment and reuse challenge. Experience over
the last decade has demonstrated that there continues to be a
significant gap in knowledge between "Best Management Practices"
(BMPs) design/analysis/monitoring and the fundamental unit
operations and processes (UOPs) that can demonstrate treatment
viability as a function of the hydrologic, physical and chemical
characteristics of stormwater loadings. Success requires the
integrated knowledge of fundamental hydrologic, physical and
chemical properties of the stormwater loadings, combined with a
foundation of UOP concepts and principles. This synthesis is
critical whether the objective is hydrologic, water chemistry
control, water reuse, reclamation, or often, a combination of
these. Without such a foundation, terms such as "best management
practices" or "control strategy" have little meaning at best, and
at worst are a euphemism for doing something, usually without an
assessment plan, and usually at the expense of significant
resources. Stormwater treatment, control and re-use will become
the environmental industry of this century in the USA. Eventually
we will realize that while we must develop structural stormwater
BMPs, these will become only one component of rainfall-runoff
treatment, control and reuse. However, structural BMP systems
that do not provide some level of hydrologic restoration (as a
combination of de-centralized and centralized treatment) may not
be economically sustainable. Additionally given the load
inventories that build up in MS4s, source control practices must
be an integral part of any management plan that includes
treatment, control and reuse. In addition, the success or failure
of stormwater control is dependent in large part upon our
understanding and application of hydrologic processes and controls
as an integral part of physical and chemical unit operations and
processes. Management of stormwater requires that we recognize
that quantity and quality are coupled phenomena in MS4s, and it is
only with restoration of the hydrologic cycle and management of
the urban water cycle that control of stormwater will be
sustainable.
Friday,
February 2, 2007
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
How Much Sand is Owed Florida's Nesting Sea Turtles?
Analysis of Beach Nourishment Data for Florida's Atlantic Coast
During the Last Century
Dr. Clay L. Montague
Environmental Engineering Sciences
University of Florida
Abstract
Beach nourishment has not been a proactive tool for rebuilding
lost sea turtle nesting habitat, yet much habitat may be missing
owing to beach erosion caused by the long history of harbor and
inlet engineering. To estimate the potential loss of nesting
habitat, a century of dredge and fill data for the east coast of
Florida was extracted from two online databases (US Army Corps of
Engineers and Duke University). The records show removal of over
150 million cu yd of material from the sand budget by disposal at
offshore and at upland sites. The volume of harbors and channels
was increased by a little over 62 million cu yd. Little of the
lost material has been returned, and much of the remaining sand
has become redistributed, with a possible loss of dunes and the
dry berm in which sea turtles build nests. Allowing the deepened
harbors and inlets to refill may further erode beaches and dunes.
Assuming the depth is maintained, and that 30% of the material
removed was never part of the sand sharing system in the first
place, in 2003 a sand deficit remained of a little more than 60
million cu yd. This is enough sand for a layer 2 yd deep, 100 yd
wide and 185 miles long. Improvements in engineering theory and
practice and diligence on the part of sea turtle managers have
reduced the short term impacts on turtles, and increased the
durability of restored beaches. It may now be appropriate to
incorporate beach nourishment as a tool in the restoration of
critical nesting habitat for sea turtles. Replacing the amount of
sand missing may restore all currently unsuitable nesting beaches
to full sea turtle production capacity. Finding enough sand of
appropriate quality to import into the system is an immediate
concern. The increasing cost of fuel is another. Failure to act
now may mean the opportunity for humanity to restore sea turtle
nesting habitat will be lost.
Friday, January 26, 2007
JOINT SEMINAR
Environmental Engineering Sciences/Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
282 JWRU (Reitz Union)
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Observations of New Particle Formation and Growth Rates in the Atmosphere
Dr. Peter McMurry
University of Minnesota, Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
Atmospheric observations made during the past decade have shown that new particles are frequently formed by
nucleation from the gas phase. The number of particles formed can be much greater than the number of preexisting particles, and
freshly nucleated particles typically grow to sizes of 10-100 nm during the course of a day. Furthermore, nucleation often occurs
over widespread areas in locations including urban areas, the continental boundary layer, the outflows of convective clouds,
and coastal zones. Therefore, nucleation may be an important global source of cloud condensation nuclei, and may play an
important role in regulating climate. In this lecture, observations of particle production
and growth rates in various locations will be summarized. These observations were made
possible by the recent availability of instruments to measure concentrations of certain gas
phase precursors (e.g., H2SO4, NH3), and size
distributions of particles as small as 3 nm and ions as small as 0.5 nm. Valuable insights have also been obtained from techniques
that have recently been developed to measure the composition and properties of freshly
nucleated particles. These new measurement techniques include the thermal desorption
chemical ionization mass spectrometer (TDCIMS) to measure the composition of sub-10
nm particles and the Nano-Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (Nano-TDMA) to
study their hygroscopicity and volatility. This lecture will summarize what these new
analytical capabilities have taught us about atmospheric nucleation. A simple criterion
that determines whether or not observable new particle formation occurs on a given day
will be described, and the observed empirical relationship between particle formation
rates and sulfuric acid vapor concentrations will be shown.
Professor Peter H. McMurry is the Kenneth T. Whitby Professor and Head of the
Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. He completed his
Ph.D. at Caltech in 1977 and has been at Minnesota since then. His atmospheric research
has focused on the development of techniques to measure fundamental aerosol properties
(density, shape factors, refractive index, water content, etc.) and the formation of new
atmospheric particles by homogeneous nucleation.
Friday,
January 19, 2007
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Commercialization of a Novel Technology for Hg Capture from Water:
Decisions Required for Commercialization
Dr. David Mazyck
Environmental Engineering Sciences
University of Florida
Abstract
Often research is aimed at developing new technologies for air and water purification, but often the
decision to commercialize these inventions is after the fact (i.e., after the bulk of the research
is concluded). As a result, the commercialization of these technologies becomes highly unlikely because the objectives of
academic research are quite different than profit motivated research. Ongoing research efforts have focused on removing
mercury at low levels (i.e., parts per trillion) using advanced oxidation with the primary intent to commercialize this
technology. Ultraviolet light is used to oxidize organic compounds bonded to mercury thereby making the mercury available
to bond with anions in solution (e.g., sulfide). The presentation will highlight this technology and some of the decisions and
obstacles one must face when commercialization is of interest.
Friday,
January 12, 2007
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Phytoremediation of Trichloroethylene at the Savannah River Site:
Biodegradation Potential of Rhizosphere Bacteria
Angela S. Lindner, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Environmental Engineering Sciences
University of Florida
Abstract
The Savannah River Site (SRS), established in Aiken, South Carolina in 1951, has served an important role in the U.S.
Department of Energy's nuclear program, with current activities now focused on disposal of nuclear wastes and environmental
cleanup of the vast number of contaminants present at the site.
Trichloroethylene (TCE), a common degreasing agent, is one of the
most problematic contaminants at SRS. While many pump-and-treat
technologies have been shown to be effective in removing TCE from
groundwater, phytoremediation, the use of plant systems to restore
contaminated soils, sediments, and water, has been shown to be
more aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective in areas with low
concentrations of TCE. SRS staff recently recognized the
effectiveness of loblolly pines, native to Thoroughbred Country of
South Carolina, in removing TCE from contaminated groundwater;
however, the relative contributions of the mechanisms of removal
degradation in the root zone and plant uptake with
subsequent accumulation, degradation, or volatilization are not
well understood.
This project sought to develop methods to assess the diversity and
activity of methanotrophic bacteria, known to degrade TCE and to
reside in the root-zones of trees, using both culture-independent
(stable isotope probing coupled with denatured gradient gel
electrophoresis) and culture-dependent (oxygen uptake analysis and
plate counts of enriched mixed and pure cultures) approaches. The
active methanotroph communities in the SIP microcosms composed of
samples removed from SRS were dominated by the
Methylocella-Methylocapsa genera, moderately acidophilic
methanotrophs that grow between pH values of 4.5 to 7, found to be
present at SRS. Enrichments from the field samples also possessed
mostly Type II methanotrophs, and expression of soluble methane
monooxygenase (sMMO) in the absence of copper was observed in all
enriched cultures. The availability of copper significantly
influenced the rates of oxygen uptake by the enriched and pure
cultures, where higher oxidation rates of methane were observed
with copper present (supportive of expression of particulate
(pMMO)) and of TCE without copper present (supportive of
expression of sMMO). The presence of monoterpene exudates from
the pine trees (namely, alpha-pinene) influenced the TCE oxidation
potentials of all three types of methanotrophs, with inhibited
methane oxidation activity of Type I methanotrophs inhibited and
enhanced activities of Type II and X methanotrophs. As water
saturation increased, rhizosphere soil heterotroph and
methanotroph counts decreased, while counts of methanotrophs in
the roots increased. The methods developed herein provide a
useful set of tools for characterization of root-zone bacterial
communities and show promise in providing an informed picture of
bacterial diversity and biodegradative potentials in
phytoremediation systems.

Friday,
December
1, 2006
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Inactivation of Bacillus cereus Spores by TiO2 Photocatalysis
on Surfaces under Dry Conditions
Jue Zhao1,3, Vijay Krishna2,3, Brij Moudgil2,3
and Ben Koopman1,3
1. Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences
2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering
3. Particle Engineering Research Center
The spores of bacteria and fungi in the indoor environment are a
major cause of allergy and respiratory problems and are also
responsible for nosocomial infections. Surfaces of windows, walls,
tables, etc. in buildings are repositories of bacterial and fungal
spores, which can survive extreme environments and
germinate on return of favorable conditions. Photocatalysis with
titanium dioxide has been widely researched for inactivation of
microorganisms and utilized for creating antimicrobial surfaces.
Titanium dioxide, unlike chemical disinfectants, does not generate
toxic by-products and complete mineralization of organic material
occurs with time, thus eliminating allergens. Few studies have
investigated the inactivation of bacterial spores by photocatalysis,
and even fewer investigations have addressed the inactivation of
spores on surfaces in the air. Most of the studies did not
distinguish between the action of solar UV (UVA)
irradiation (photolysis) alone and the combined action of photolysis
and photocatalysis. Furthermore, two studies that distinguished
photolysis and photocatalysis showed varying indications as to
whether photocatalysis makes a significant contribution to spore
inactivation.
The goal of this research was to determine the effect of UVA
intensity on the contribution of photocatalysis to inactivation of
bacterial endospores on surfaces in air. Before this could be
accomplished, however, key experimental techniques for purifying,
dispersing and recovering spores had to be worked out. The first two
specific objectives of the study were therefore to evaluate
alternative spore purification methods and to find the most
effective method for dispersing the spores that would also allow
their efficient recovery. Once these objectives were achieved, the
third objective could be addressed, which was to compare
inactivation of irradiated spores in contact with titania to
inactivation of irradiated spores without contact with titania,
and to determine the effect of UVA intensity on the above
relationship. Results of these investigations and their implications
for successful deployment of antimicrobial photocatalytic surfaces
in the indoor environment are presented.

Friday, November
17, 2006
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Dry Creek Watershed Investigation: Long Term Assessment of the
Impacts of Forest Harvesting on Amphibians and Benthic Macroinvertebrates
Marcus Griswold, Diane Bennett, Brooke Talley
Graduate Students, EES
Abstract
A five year assessment of biotic responses to forest management and harvest is being conducted at the Dry Creek watershed of the
International Paper experimental forest in southern Georgia. Four neighboring subwatersheds were monitored in this study: two left
intact to serve as controls and two harvested according to Georgia best management practices. Particular emphasis has been placed on
role of the riparian zone around the creek and the broader management issue of the Streamside Management Zone. Regarding the
latter, some SMZs were left intact, while selective thinning was conducted with others. The long term impact of forest management
practices on amphibian and benthic macroinvertebrates will be discussed.

Thursday, November
9, 2006*
1001 New Physics Building*
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
*Please note special day and location for this week's seminar due
to observation of Veteran's Day on Fri, 11/10
Everglades Restoration: In Progress or in Peril?
Professor Wayne C. Huber
Chair of the National Research Council Review Committee on the Everglades
Oregon State University
Abstract
The Everglades are unique in the world in their assemblage of geographic and ecological wonders, ranging from tree islands to
exotic reptiles and wading birds. With a landscape that slopes as little as an inch per mile, the water in the
"River of Grass" historically moved slowly but inexorably from the region of Lake
Okeechobee southward towards the current Everglades National Park and Florida Bay, sustaining its unique ecological riches.
However, nearly 130 years of drainage, channelization, encroachment, and development for the beneficial uses of
agriculture, industry, and cities have reduced the original 3
million acres of natural landscape by about half. Water destined for Everglades National Park must now run a gauntlet of canals,
levees, pump stations, and hydraulic controls. Pollution of pristine natural waters by phosphorus and mercury and invasion by
exotic species further compromise the ability of the Everglades
and its water to support its ecological functions. In response to these issues, the state of Florida and the nation
have formed a partnership to restore the remaining Everglades ecosystem as nearly as possible to pre-drainage hydrologic
conditions, under the reasonable assumption that if we "get the
water right," a positive ecological response will follow. The nearly 11 billion dollar (2004 estimate) Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan, or CERP, is the realization of this partnership, as jointly managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the
South Florida Water Management District. Authorized by the Water
Resources Development Act of 2000, or WRDA 2000, the Plan includes provision for independent scientific oversight as to progress in
restoring the natural system. The National Research Council's Committee on Independent Scientific Review of Everglades
Restoration Progress, or CISRERP, was formed for this purpose in 2004, and recently issued its first biennial report on restoration
progress. This seminar will provide background on the Everglades and the CERP and summarize the
committee's findings on restoration progress to date. http://fermat.nap.edu/books/0309103355/html/R9.html

Friday, November 3, 2006
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
The University of Florida Water Institute
Who, What and Why??
Wendy Graham, Carl S. Swisher Chair in Water Resources
Director, University of Florida Water Institute
Abstract
With the world's largest ecosystem restoration project, one of the world's most productive aquifers, the largest concentration of
first magnitude springs in the country, a burgeoning human population, and vulnerability to both climatological and
anthropogenic changes in the water cycle, Florida provides a
unique living laboratory to develop new knowledge and test solutions to water problems. The University of Florida Water
Institute was officially established in June 2006 with a mission to foster interdisciplinary research, education, and public
outreach programs in water-related studies. Engineering, policy and legal solutions developed in Florida will provide a model for
others, both nationally and internationally. Thus we envision a Water Institute at UF committed to addressing Florida issues while
being recognized for providing solutions, science and education for national and global water resource problems.
This seminar will discuss the history, mission, current activities and strategic plan for the UF Water Institute.

Friday, October 27, 2006
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Nanotechnology and the Environment: A Preliminary Assessment
of the Potential Impacts of Nanomaterials on Biota and Ecosystem
Functions
Dr. J.C. Bonzongo
Abstract
Emerging nanotechnology holds a great promise for creating new means
of detecting pollutants, cleaning polluted waste streams, recovering
materials before they become wastes, and expanding the currently
available resources. The anticipated growth of this new technology
and the resulting widespread use of its products could lead to both
intentional and non-intentional discharges of a new class of
pollutants into the environment. This study focuses on the
environmental implications of nanomaterials (NM) with emphasis
on toxicity and toxicity mechanism(s). The objectives are: (1) to
assess the toxicity of nanomaterials on biota using short-term
micro-biotests and investigate the impacts of NM on microbial-driven
ecological functions; (2) to determine possible mechanisms of
toxicity of different types of NM; and (3) to investigate the fate
of pollutants adsorbed on NM used in remediation processes. Our
preliminary experiments focusing on the toxicity of C60 through
direct exposure to or by spiking aquatic sediments with increasing
C60 concentrations have shown negative impacts on both tested
organisms (e.g. invertebrate-based test, and a unicellular
algal-based test) and rates of sedimentary biogeochemical processes
that are driven by bacteria. In parallel, we initiated a
computational investigation of molecular mechanisms of NM toxicity
with a focus on interactions of NM with cell membranes. In this
case, we modeled cell membranes as lipid bilayers and investigated
model carbon-based NM (C60 and SWNT) and observed extremely small
barrier for permeation of these NM into the hydrophobic interior of
a lipid bilayer. Finally, using mercury bio-methylation as surrogate
for bioavailability of TiO2-SiO2 nanocomposite-bound inorganic Hg,
we assessed the potential for nanowastes to become hazardous if not
disposed safely.

Friday, October 20, 2006
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Microbial Inactivation by Microwave Radiation in the Home
Environment
Gabriel Bitton, Ph.D., Professor
Abstract
A study was undertaken on the survival of microorganisms
(heterotrophic plate count, total coliforms, E. coli, bacterial
spores) in a consumer-type microwave oven. Kitchen sponges,
scrubbing pads, and syringes were experimentally contaminated with
wastewater and subsequently exposed to microwave radiation. At
100% power level, it was found that the heterotrophic plate count
(i.e., total bacterial count) of wastewater was reduced by more that
99% within 1 to 2 min whereas the total coliforms and E. coli were
totally inactivated after 30 seconds of microwave radiation.
Bacterial phage MS2 was totally inactivated within 1 to 2 min.
Spores of Bacillus cereus were more resistant than the other
microorganisms tested, and were completely eradicated only after
4-min irradiation. Similar inactivation rates were obtained in
wastewater-contaminated scrubbing pads.
Microorganisms attached to plastic syringes were more resistant
to microwave irradiation than those associated with kitchen sponges
or scrubbing pads. It took 10 min for total inactivation of the
heterotrophic plate count, and 4 min for the total inactivation of
total coliforms and E. coli. A 4-log reduction of phage MS2 was
obtained after two min whereas 97.4% reduction was observed after
12-min exposure to microwave radiation. We also observed a higher
inactivation of B. cereus spores in syringes placed in a ceramics
container than those placed in a glass container. This finding could
have some implications in the design of containers for exposure of
medical devices to microwave radiation. The implications of these
findings in consumer safety in the home environment are discussed.

Friday, October 13, 2006
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Mass Flux as a Remedial Performance Metric at Contaminated
Sites
Michael D. Annable
Abstract
Remediation of hazardous waste sites has advanced significantly over
the last ten years. Our initial evaluation of remedial performance
focused on concentration based measurements. Typically groundwater
and soils were sampled before and after clean up and success or
failure was based on these results. More recently focus has shifted
to assessment of mass flux and integrated mass discharge leaving a
contaminated source area. These metrics are being adopted because
they provide a more direct link to the expected contaminant plume
response to source zone remediation. This presentation will briefly
review the chronology and motivation behind the changes. The shift
to a flux based performance assessment has lead to innovative
advances in our ability to collect data on contaminant mass flux and
discharge at field sites. The current field methods will be
reviewed. The move to flux based site assessment also provides the
ability to perform site mass balances and predict the long term
response to remedial decisions. Two case studies will be used to
highlight the advantages of flux based performance metrics. A
surfactant flood conducted at Hill AFB Utah and a thermal remedial
implementation at Ft. Lewis Army Base Washington provide examples
of flux based remedial performance assessment. Innovative methods
for quantifying mass flux and discharge were applied at these sites
including passive flux meters and integral pump tests.

Friday, September 29, 2006
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Commercial Partnerships for University-Based Research
William Sheehan
There are many excellent reasons for considering commercial
partnerships for university based research. There are also several
solid reasons why you should not. This seminar will discuss the pros
and cons of pursing commercial applications for university based
research and hopefully help you decide when collaborating with
industry is a good option. The seminar will also describe some of
the key criteria for developing a successful commercial partnership.
Part of the discussion will focus on the Environmental Systems
Commercial Space Technology Center (ES CSTC) which was awarded by
NASA to the University of Florida in December of 2000 for the
express purpose of developing applications research of interest to
NASA?s Advanced Life Support Program. A specific and somewhat unique
requirement of the cooperative
agreement was for universities to collaborate with industry on
applications research so that the NASA space application and
commercial application for industry were pursued concurrently.
Lessons learned from operation of the ES CSTC at UF will be
highlighted during the discussion.

Friday, September 22, 2006
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Environmental Research at the Particle Engineering Research
Center
Kevin W. Powers
The Particle Engineering Research Center was founded in 1994 as
anNSF funded Center dedicated to the study of Particle Technology.
One of the charter objectives of the Center is to promote the
interaction between industrial partners and the academic community
for the advancement of pure and applied research into particle
science and engineering. Due to the wide application of particle
technologies in almost all industries, the research efforts of the
Center are varied but focus on common themes such as:
characterization, separations, engineered particulates, cohesive
powder flow and biomedical applications. The application of particle
science towards environmental issues has been a strong emphasis
since the Center's inception. A number of very successful
collaborative research efforts have been conducted with the
Environmental Engineering Sciences faculty and students. Currently,
PERC researchers and associated faculty are involved in several
research projects with environmental implications. One such effort
involves a
multidisciplinary team investigating the health, safety and
environmental implications of nanotechnologies. The Center also
participates in several national and international standards
development efforts related to this area. In this presentation, Dr.
Powers will review the technical capabilities of the PERC and
illustrate them with an example of assessing the in-vitro toxicology
of nanoparticles.

Friday, September 15, 2006
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Overview of Chemical Engineering Graduate Research
Jennifer Sinclair Curtis
Chair, Chemical Engineering Department
This presentation will give an overview of the ongoing research in
the chemical engineering department with an emphasis on potential
areas of collaboration with Environmental Engineering Sciences. The
main areas of research of the chemical engineering faculty are
bioengineering, electronic materials processing, complex fluids, and
interfacial phenomena and nanotechnology. During the past two years,
the department has added six new faculty members bringing the
department’s total faculty size to 26. Hence, UF’s Chemical
Engineering department is one of the largest in the country. The new
faculty hires are in the areas of advanced materials, nanotechnology
and bioengineering. Virtually all thesis research conducted in the
department is PhD student research - the department’s PhD student
population exceeds 100, with only about 10 MS-non thesis students.
The department is 6th among all chemical engineering departments
nationally in terms of the number of PhD students graduated
(Chemical & Engineering News, July 24, 2006 issue).

Friday, September 8, 2006
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-minute Seminar
Application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to
Environmental Engineering Studies
Srikanth Pathapati, Robert Rooney, Ki-joon Jeon, John Sansalone
Recent studies have concluded that traditional analytical and
semi-empirical methods are defensible approaches to modeling UOP
(Unit Operations and Processes) behavior when combined with
monitoring to environmental loadings. However such methods are
challenged under common non-ideal flow conditions and can
misrepresent actual behavior to complex loadings.
The Navier-Stokes (N-S) equations are universally accepted as the
fundamental equations of fluid flow. For complex flows complex
heterogeneous loadings for complex geometries, solving these
equations analytically is not a feasible task without significant
simplifications. This has led to the development of various
numerical schemes to solve the N-S equations. Advances in
computational power have facilitated the use of the Finite Element
Method (FEM) and the Finite Volume Method (FVM) to investigate the
multiphase dynamics of fluids. The CFD (Computational Fluid
Dynamics) approach to examining and modeling the behavior of a UOP
provides a complete picture of flow regimes within the geometry of
the UOP considered. Two case studies are presented. The first case
study examined the hydrodynamic and particulate clarification
response of a hydrodynamic separator with a set of algorithms
incorporated into a CFD model of the UOP system. A K-ε model was
used to model flow and a Lagrangian Discrete Phase Model (DPM) was
used to calculate particle trajectories and predict particle
separation results. The CFD simulation results were compared with
monitored data and material balances, and these results demonstrated
success in modeling the particle separation behavior of the
hydrodynamic separator. The second case study presented illustrates
the internal thermodynamics of an incinerator using a CFD
simulation.

Friday, September 1, 2006
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Role of Water Reuse in Limiting Ocean Discharge of Nutrients
in Southeast Florida
Fatma Y. Cakir, Matt Rembold, Gautam Kini, Paul Indeglia, Ben
Koopman and James P. Heaney
Each day some 49,000 lb of nitrogen and 4,000 lb of phosphorus in
secondarily treated municipal effluents are discharged to the
coastal ocean through outfalls in Southeast Florida. Coincidentally,
Southeast Florida lags behind the rest of the State in implementing
water reuse. Increasing the extent of water reuse in this part of
Florida could limit the quantity of nutrients discharged to the
ocean as well as conserve freshwater resources. The purpose of this
study was to evaluate the effect of four alternatives involving
differing levels of public access reuse and groundwater recharge on
the quantities of nutrients discharged through ocean outfalls and
the costs of treatment, water reuse, and effluent disposal.

Friday, August 25, 2006
386 NEB
2:45 pm Reception
3:00 pm 50-Minute Seminar
Overview of Graduate Research
James P. Heaney and Joe Delfino
During the past four years, the number of Ph.D. students in the
Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences has quadrupled to
our current enrollment of 64 Ph.D. students. The purpose of this
graduate seminar series is to enhance interaction among our
graduate students by having a weekly seminar series where ideas
can be exchanged and feedback provided on our individual research
endeavors. The format for each presentation is a 35-minute talk
followed by 15 minutes of discussion.
Professors Heaney and Delfino will initiate the seminar series
with presentations on administrative procedures for graduate
research. They will also provide some general guidelines in terms
of expectations for evaluating the productivity of research as
measured by publications and sponsored research.
Dr. Hwidong Kim, EES Lab Manager, will also discuss the
requirements that all graduate students doing lab work attend a
safety seminar prior to working in the labs.
All graduate students should attend and participate in these
weekly seminars. Please contact Professor Heaney (392-0841 or
Heaney@ufl.edu) or Ms. Lindsey
Riemenschneider (636-3931 or
lariemens@ucdavis.edu)
if you have any questions or suggestions.
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