Water remediation with Light

Photochemical/Photocatalytic approach to water remediation:

In collaboration with Prof. Eakalak Khan (Univ of Nevada, Las Vegas), a water resource engineer, we have developed photo-catalysts and photochemical methods to remove active pharmaceuticals, toxins (e.g. algal toxins) from water. To address the problem of chemicals that are prevalent in produced water after fracking (process used in oil and gas industries) that potentially contaminate fresh water sources (food-water nexus), we have developed a photocatalytic process to remove such contaminants utilizing visible light.

Photochemical removal of Toxins – References

1.  Martin, M. A.; Sivaguru, J.*; McEvoy, J.; Sonthiphand, P.; Delorme, A.; Khan, E. Photodegradation of (E)- and (Z)-Endoxifen in Water by Ultraviolet Light: Efficiency, Kinetics, By-Products, and Toxicity Assessment. Water Research, 2020, 171, 115451 (DOI: 1016/j.watres.2019.115451)

Photochemical removal of pollutants – References

2. Hong, S.; Ratpukdi, T.; Sivaguru, J.; Khan, E. A sustainable solution for removal of glutaraldehyde in saline water with visible light photocatalysis, Chemosphere, 2019, 220, 1083-1090. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.12.21

3. Hong, S.; Ratpukdi, T.; Sivaguru, J.; Khan, E.Photolysis of glutaraldehyde in brine: A showcase study for removal of a common biocide in oil and gas produced water. Hazad. Mater. 2018, 353, 254-260

4. Sieverding, H. L.; Clay, D. E.; Khan, E.; Sivaguru, J.; Pattabiraman, M.; Koodali, R. T.; Ndiva-Mongoh, M.; Stone, J. J. A Sustainable Rural Food–Energy–Water Nexus Framework for the Northern Great Plains. Agric. Environ. Lett.2016, 1, 1-4.