WASTEWATER REUSE TO PROMOTE WATER-ENERGY-FOOD SUSTAINABILITY

"Enhanced evaluation of the removal of contaminants of emerging concern in decentralized water reuse systems by non-targeted analysis.” Pilot scale study on chemical degradation and transformation in anaerobic and aerobic membrane bioreactors using non-targeted approaches. Techniques will  identify known chemicals as well as the multitude of chemicals that may not yet have been identified with compound-specific monitoring approaches. PI: Mladenov, co-PIs: Hoh and Dodder.
National Science Foundation (NSF-ENVE)
"Fluorescence-based sensors for water reuse applications." Monitoring of ultrafiltration membrane performance using 3-D fluorescence spectroscopy in tandem with 1-D in-situ submersible fluorometry, water flux, and water quality measurements. Monitoring of contaminant breach and barrier failure scenarios. PI: Mladenov
SDSU Presidential Leadership Fund
"US-South Africa collaboration on sustainable sanitation and energy and resource recovery from wastewater." Research experience for SDSU and CPP students at the food-water-energy nexus; a collaboration with scientists and engineers at the University of KwaZulu-Natal to introduce US students to decentralized wastewater treatment and other sustainable water and sanitation systems in urban communities of Durban, South Africa. Read more about this international research activity here (NSF Award Abstract). See our website and apply for the summer 2017 cohort here. PI: Mladenov, collaborators: Palomo, Buckley, Casad, Pietruschka.
National Science Foundation (NSF IRES)
"Ft. Riley Net Zero Water Reuse." Collaboration with Kansas State University, University of Cincinatti, ORD, EPA, USGS, and Fort Riley Army Base on research to evaluate performance of aerobic membrane bioreactor using fluorescence spectroscopy to track pathogen breakthrough and evaluate MBR performance in a water reuse system. PI: Hutchinson, co-PIs: Mladenov and Middendorf.
USGS, EPA, and FT. RILEY

WATER QUALITY AND RIVER RESTORATION IN THE SAN DIEGO RIVER WATERSHED

"Increasing Preparedness in the San Diego River Watershed for Potential Contamination Events." This project evaluates various contributions to pollution of the San Diego River through traditional and novel analyses of chemicals, fecal indicator bacteria, and novel microbial and chemical markers of anthropogenic contamination during dry and wet weather. PI: Mladenov, co-PIs: Verbyla, Kinoshita, Gersberg, and Zink.
San Diego River Conservancy
"Restoration of Alvarado Creek Upper Reach 1" This project restores native habitat in a section of Alvarado Creek, a tributary of the San Diego River, and implements monitoring to understand the impacts of creek restoration on eco-hydrologic dynamics, water quality, and biological parameters. Mladenov leads the investigation of dissolved organic matter dynamics and contaminant and pathogen mobility during stormwater runoff. PI: Zink, co-PIs: Mladenov and Kinoshita.
San Diego River Conservancy
"Tracking Sewage inputs to surface waters with portable fluorescence sensors" Lab and field-based testing of portable, submersible fluorescence sensors to track renegade sewage inputs to rivers. PI: Mladenov.
Project currently seeking funding!
Undergraduate student project leader, Lorelay Mendoza, supported by SDSU MARC Program Fellowship.


DOM SOURCES IN ARSENIC-LADEN GROUNDWATER

Picture
"Toward an improved understanding of reactive organic carbon sources and arsenic mobility in reducing aquifers." Characterization of DOM in groundwater to investigate labile and humic DOM sources in reducing environments with elevated arsenic concentrations. Read more on this NSF-funded project here. PI: Mladenov.
National Science Foundation (NSF RAPID)
 “Collaborative Research: Humics and Iron Redox Reactions in Bangladesh Aquifer." An investigation into the dual role of DOM in reducing aquifers of Bangladesh- as a labile C source for iron reducing bacteria and as an electron shuttle acting to enhance microbial iron reduction. In this setting, evaluating the source and reactivity of DOM is key to gaining a process-level understanding of arsenic mobilization. More on this research...  PI: Zheng and Nemergut, co-PIs: McKnight and Mladenov.
National Science Foundation (NSF EAR)
"Investigating the interaction between dissolved organic matter, microbial communities, and arsenic biogeochemistry in groundwater of a pristine delta."  We are investigating interactions between organic matter, arsenic, microbes, and metals in a pristine, arid environment, the Okavango Delta of Botswana. We are working with colleagues at the University of Botswana and the Okavango Research Institute to learn more about the competing effects of arid conditions and extreme flood on microbially-driven redox processes and the concentration of solutes in Okavango island groundwater. Read more about this international research activity here. PI: Mladenov.
National Science Foundation (NSF OISE)

DEGRADATION OF OIL-DERIVED HYDROCARBONS IN THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT

Picture
"Persistence of oil-derived hydrocarbons in the coastal environment after the Refugio oil spill." Biodegradation and irradiation experiments to determine rates of degradation for oil-derived PAH and water soluble organic carbon compounds under realistic conditions in coastal environments. PI: Mladenov.
Council on Ocean Affairs, Science, & Technology (COAST)

CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS TO TREAT INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER

Picture
"Improving the quality of powerplant wastewater using constructed wetland systems." Toxic trace elements, such as selenium, arsenic, and mercury, are routinely removed from the air emissions of coal-fired powerplants using flue-gas-desulfurization (FGD) technology. Toxic trace elements and other pollutants ultimately become concentrated in FGD wastewater discharge and pose a threat to water quality. We are evaluating the long-term viability of constructed wetlands for the sequestration of toxic trace elements. PI: Mladenov, co-PIs: Hettiarachchi and Hutchinson.
Kansas State University (Electrical Power Affiiliates Program)