Professor Anderson's research deals with physical and chemical processes in water and wastewater treatment, especially reactions at the solid-water interface. His areas of specialization also include watershed management and industrial ecology education.
Precipitation Kinetics
Although precipitation processes are among the most common water and wastewater treatment techniques, fundamental concepts of these reactions in complex systems are not well known. A long-term objective of this project is to apply to wastewater precipitation processes the design and control strategies used in industrial precipitation. Sludge management can be made more efficient if precipitate is formed in consideration of final product characteristics.
Evaluation of Oxide Adsorbents for Water and Wastewater Treatment
In contrast with traditional precipitation processes, oxide adsorption processes can minimize or eliminate sludge production and simplify recovery of metals from waste streams. Composite adsorbents have been prepared using granular activated carbon as a support medium with either iron or manganese oxides deposited on the surface. Measured adsorption capacities indicate that these composite adsorbents make very efficient use of the small amount of oxide surface coatings. Furthermore, by lowering the solution pH, adsorbed metals can be recovered in a much more concentrated solution. The regenerated adsorbent can be reused in multiple processes. |