Our research aims to develop new treatment processes and optimize current technologies to remove a broad range of contaminants from water and wastewater for drinking and beneficial uses. Specifically, our research can be classified into the following areas.
Produced Water Treatment and Beneficial Uses
The Feasibility of Utilizing Produced Water to Improve Drinking Water Supply in Southeastern New Mexico. Funded by New Mexico Environment Department and New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute. 2015-2016.
Advancing a Web-based Tool for Unconventional Natural Gas Development with Focus on Flowback and Produced Water Characterization, Treatment and Beneficial Use. Funded by U.S. DOE/RPSEA (Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America). 2013-2016.
Self-Sustaining Produced Water Treatment for Concurrent Renewable Energy Production, Desalination and Organic Removal. Funded by United States Geological Survey through New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute. 2014-2016.
Quantifying Potential Environmental Impacts and Water Treatment Requirements for Wastewater Produced in Oil & Gas Operations. NMSU Interdisciplinary Research Grant. 2013-2014.
Novel Engineered Osmosis Technology: A Comprehensive Approach to the Treatment and Reuse of Produced Water and Drilling Wastewater. Funded by U.S. DOE/RPSEA (Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America). 2012-2014
An Integrated Framework for Treatment and Management of Produced Water. Funded by U.S. DOE/RPSEA (Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America). 2008-2011.
Multi-beneficial use of co-produced water through high-pressure membrane treatment and capacitive deionization technology. Funded by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. 2004-2005.
Desalination and Concentrate Management
Innovative Algal/Membrane Hybrid System for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Potable Water Recovery. Funded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Desalination and Water Purification Research Program Pilot Studies. 2018-2020.
Enhanced Water Recovery Using Cost-effective Electrodialysis Process for Water Reuse – Improve Energy Efficiency and Reduce Chemical Demand. Funded by National Science Foundation/Engineering Research Center (ReNUWIt – Reinventing the Nation’s Urban Water Infrastructure). 2011-2021.
Assessment of Brackish Groundwater Desalination for Municipal and Industrial Water Supply in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Funded by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation under NMSU cooperative agreement. 2017-2019.
Low Cost, Low Energy Concentrate Water Desalination using Heat Recuperative Solar Still with Concentrating Solar Technology. Funded by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation under NMSU cooperative agreement. 2017-2019.
Pilot evaluation of a sustainable autonomous brackish groundwater desalination system. Funded by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Pitch-to-Pilot Award. 2017-2018.
Reducing treatment costs of alternative waters with antifouling ion-exchange membranes. Funded by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation under NMSU cooperative agreement. 2016-2018.
Demonstration of Monovalent Selective Ion Exchange Membranes for Desalination and Reuse Enhancement. Funded by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Desalination and Water Purification Research Program Pilot Studies. 2014-2017.
Guidelines for Implementation of Seawater and Brackish Water Desalination. Funded by Water Research Foundation. 2008-2010.
Critical assessment of implementing desalination technologies. Funded by Water Research Foundation. 2006-2008.
Desalination product water recovery and concentrate volume minimization. Funded by Water Research Foundation. 2004-2008.
SROG salinity research and concentrate minimization demonstration testing study. Funded by Sub-Regional Operating Group (SROG) and Carollo Engineers. 2010-2011.
Assessment of capacitive deionization for metals recovery. Funded by The Water Company. 2007-2008.
Membrane Technologies and Removal of Emerging Contaminants
Advanced Chemical Analysis Capability for Alternative Water Source Research. Funded by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation under NMSU cooperative agreement. 2017-2018.
Membrane autopsy and state-of-the-art characterization of membrane properties and fouling with advanced analytical tools including ESEM/EDX, ATR-FTIR, AFM, Fujuwara testing, contact angle measurement, zeta-potential measurement, chemical extraction and elemental analysis.
Comparison of nanofiltration and reverse osmosis in terms of water quality and operational performance of treating recycled water. Funded by Awwa Research Foundation.
Rejection of wastewater-derived micropollutants in high-pressure membrane applications leading to indirect potable reuse. Funded by WateReuse Foundation
Other Research Activities
Innovative bioelectrochemical processes for concurrent renewable energy production, desalination and wastewater treatment
Bench and pilot-scale testing of groundwater remediation to remove volatile organic contaminants (VOCs) with high iron and ammonia concentration.
Wastewater ozonation for water reuse
Photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminated water with photocatalytic oxide semiconductor thin films