 Anaerobic Biotechnology |  Biological Wastewater Recovery |  Microbial Community – Bioprocess |  Pyrolysis |
|---|---|---|---|
 Biosolids Processing |
ZITOMER
LAB GROUP
Research Focus
The Zitomer Lab Group improves environmental technology, transforming wastewater into clean water and other resources such as methane and biochar.
We perform research and development to advance anaerobic biotechnologies in which microorganisms convert wastes to biogas that contains methane. The captured methane can then be used as a renewable fuel for heat and electricity generation.
Our research and development also focuses on biosolids thermochemical conversion to energy and biochar, chemically enhanced primary treatment and advanced oxidation for storm water and combined sewer overflow management.
We improve engineered bioprocesses using standard methods as well as molecular tools (Illumina sequencing, etc.), bioinformatics and statistical approaches to relate microbial community composition to process function.
Specific Research Interests
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Improved anaerobic biotechnology and operation for industrial and municipal wastewater
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New anaerobic membrane bioreactor configurations for efficient municipal wastewater recovery
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Relationships between microbial community composition and engineered bioprocess efficiency
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Bioaugmentation to improve engineered bioprocesses
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Wastewater treatment energy reduction
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Biosolids pyrolysis for energy and biochar production
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Rapid municipal wet weather flow treatment processes
CURRENT RESEARCH
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System for biomethane production from bioplastics
NSF IUCRC for Water Equipment and Policy
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Advanced high-rate wet-weather flow treatment process
NSF IUCRC for Water Equipment and Policy
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CORBI: Coupled titanium dioxide photocatalysis and filtration for simultaneous reduction of organic matter, viruses and estrogenic compounds
NSF (PI Dr. Brooke Mayer)
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FRP: Electrocoagulation for the mitigation of emerging biological and chemical contaminants
NSF (PI Dr. Brooke Mayer)
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Collaborative research: I/UCRC for water, equipment and policy
NSF
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Wastewater treatment processes for CLASS
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation via Kohler Company
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Pilot-scale pyrolysis of biosolids
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District