Sarina J. Ergas

Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Research Areas

 

Research Projects

Graduate Students & Post Docs

Selected publications

Conference Proceedings & Presentations

 

Research Projects: Recent and On-going

 

Graduate Students and Post-Docs

Ashish Sahu

Erica Lopez-Luna

Joseph Fermanian

 

Journal Publications

Min, K. and S.J. Ergas (2006) Volatilization and Biodegradation of VOCs in Membrane Bioreactors, J. Water, Air and Soil Pollution , 6:83-96.

Sengupta, S., Ergas, S.J., Lopez-Luna, E., Wood, J., Sahu, A.K., Palaniswamy, K. (2006) Autotrophic biological denitrification for complete removal of nitrogen from septic system wastewater, J. Water, Air, Soil Pollution , 6(1-2):111-126.

Ergas, S.J., Therriault, B.M. and Reckhow, D.A. (2006) “Evaluation of Water Reuse Technologies for the Textile Industry,” J. Environmental Engineering, ASCE , 132(3):315-323.

Leshem, E.N., Pines, D.S., Ergas, S.J. and Reckhow, D.A. (2006) “Electrochemical Oxidation and Ozonation for Textile Wastewater Reuse,” J. Environmental Engineering, ASCE , 132(3):324-330.

Pines, D.S., K-N Min, D.A. Reckhow and S.J. Ergas (2004) “Investigation of Ozone Membrane Contactor,” Ozone Science & Engineerin g , 27:209-217.

Ergas, S.J. and D.E. Rheinheimer (2004) Drinking water denitrification using a membrane bioreactor,” Water Research . 38(14-15): 3225-3232.

Morgan-Sagastume, J.M., A. Noyola, S. Revah and S.J. Ergas (2002) “Changes in Physical Structure of a Compost Biofilter Treating H 2 S,” j. Air & Waste Management Assoc., 53(8):1011-1021.

Min, K., S.J. Ergas and J.M. Harrison (2002) “Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor for Nitric Oxide Removal,” Environmental Engineering Science , 19(6):575-583.

Ergas, S.J. and A. Reuss (2001) “Hydrogenotrophic Denitrification of Drinking Water Using a Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor,” J. Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua , 50(3):161-171.

Dolasa, A.R. and S.J. Ergas (2000) “Membrane Bioreactor for Cometabolism of Trichloroethene Air Emissions,” J. Environmental Engineering, ASCE , (126)10: 969-973.

Ergas, S.J., E. Hinlein, J. P. Tehrany, P.O. Reyes and D.W. Ostendorf (2000) “Near Surface Soil Vapor Clusters for Monitoring Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from Soils,” J. Air & Waste Management Association , 50(1):174-180.

Ergas, S.J., L. Shumway, M.W. Fitch, J. Neemann (1999) “Membrane Process for Biological Treatment of Contaminated Gas Streams,” Biotechnology and Bioengineering , 63(4):431-441.

Cárdenas-González, B . , S.J. Ergas, and M.S. Switzenbaum (1999) “Characterization of Compost Biofiltration Media,” J. Air & Waste Management Association , 49(7):174-185.

Cárdenas-González, B . , S.J. Ergas, M.S. Switzenbaum and N. Phillibert (1999) “Evaluation of Full-Scale Biofilter Media Performance,” Environmental Progress , 18(3):205-211.

Ergas, S.J. and M.S. McGrath (1997) “Membrane Bioreactor for Control of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions,” J. Environmental Engineering, ASCE , 123(6):593-598.

Ergas, S.J., J. Veir, and K. Kinney (1996) “Control of Dichloromethane Emissions Using Biofiltration,” J. Environmental Science and Health , A31:1741-1754.

Ergas, S.J., E.D. Schroeder, D.P.Y. Chang, and R. Morton (1995) “Control of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions Using a Compost Biofilter,” Water Environment Research, 67:816-821.

Ergas, S.J., K. Kinney , M.E. Fuller, and K.M. Scow (1994) “Characterization of a Compost Biofiltration System Degrading Dichloromethane,” Biotechnology & Bioengineering , 44:1048-1054.

Books and Chapters in Books

Ergas, S.J., Harrison , J., Bloom, J., Forloney, K., Ahlfeld, D.P., Nüsslein, K., Yuretich, R.F. (2005) Chap. 7. Natural Attenuation of Acid Mine Drainage by Acidophilic and Acidotolerant Fe(III)- and Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria, in Remediation of Hazardous Waste in the Subsurface: Bridging Flask and Field Studies , C. Clark II and A. Lindner (eds.), pp. 105-107, American Chemical Society Symposium Series No. 940, American Chemical Society, Washington DC.

Ergas, S.J. (2001) “Chapter 6: Membrane bioreactors,” In: Bioreactors for Waste gas Treatment (C. Kennes and M.C. Veiga , eds.), pp. 163-178, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht , The Netherlands.

Ergas, S.J. and K.A. Kinney (2000) “Biological Control Systems,” In: Air Pollution Engineering Manual (W.T. Davis ed.), pp. 55-65, Air & Waste Management Association-John Wiley and Sons, New York .

Conference Proceedings and Presentations

•  Rivera-Negrón, J.R. and S.J. Ergas (2006) “Behavior of Autotrophic Perchlorate Reducing Bacteria and Analysis of Research Department Explosive [RDX] in Water by High Performance Liquid Chromatography, HPLC/UV, Proc. American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) 2006 Annual Meeting , Nov. 12-17, 2006, San Francisco CA.

•  Conneely, T.A., Sahu, A.K., Ergas, S.J., Nüsslein, K. (2006) “Novel Bioreactor for Perchlorate Removal Using Elemental Sulfur,” Proc. American Water Works Association Water Quality Technology Conference , Nov. 6-9, 2006, Denver, Co (accepted).

•  Lopez-Luna, E.L., Ergas, S.J. and Yuretich, R. (2006) “ In situ and laboratory studies of natural attenuation of acid mine drainage,” Battelle In-situ and Onsite Bioremediation Conference , Baltimore , MD , May 7-10, 2007 (submitted).

•  Sengupta, S., Ergas, S.J., Lopez-Luna, E. (2007) “ Investigation of Solid Phase Buffers for Sulfur Oxidizing Autotrophic Denitrification,” Proceedings of Nutrient Removal 2007: The State of the Art , WEF, IWA, EPA, Baltimore, MD March 4-7 (submitted).

•  Min, K-N, Ergas, S.J., Mermelstein, A. (2007) “ Impact of Dissolved Oxygen Concentration on Membrane Filtering Resistance and Soluble Organic Compound Characteristics in MBRs,” Proc. International Conference on Membranes for Water and Wastewater Treatment , Harrogate, U.K., May 15-17, 2007 (submitted) .

•  Sahu, A.K., Ergas, S.J. (2007) “ Wastewater Denitrification in a Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor Using Hydrogen as an Electron Donor,” Proc. International Conference on Membranes for Water and Wastewater Treatment , Harrogate , U.K. , May 15-17, 2007 (submitted) .

•  Sahu, A.K., Ergas, S.J. (2006) “ Autotrophic Perchlorate Reduction Using Elemental Sulfur ,” SERDP Partners in Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop , Washington , D.C. , November 28-30, 2006 (accepted).

•  Sahu, A.K. and Ergas, S.J. (2006) “Perchlorate Reduction in a Packed Bed Bioreactor Using Elemental Sulfur”, Proc. 2 2 nd Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments and Water , University of Massachusetts, Amherst, October 16-19 (accepted).

•  Sahu, A.K. and Ergas, S.J. (2006) “Biological Reduction of Perchlorate Contaminated Waters Using Elemental Sulfur”, Proc. 5 th International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds , Monterey , California , May 22-25.

•  Herrera, M., Morgan-Sagastume, J.M., Ergas, S.J., Noyola , A. (2006) “Municipal wastewater treatment using UASB reactor attached with a membrane module: biofouling and efficiency,” Proc. North American Membrane Society Annual Meeting , Chicago IL , May 12-17.

•  Lopez-Luna, E.L., Ergas, S.J. and Yuretich, R. (2006) “ In situ and laboratory studies of natural attenuation of acid mine drainage,” Proc. 41st Annual Meeting Northeastern Section of the Geological Society of America , Harrisburg , PA , March, 2006.

•  Sahu, A.K. and Ergas, S.J. (2006) “Biological Treatment of Ion Exchange Brines Containing High Nitrate Concentrations Using a Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor,” American Water Works Association 2006 Annual Conference (ACE 06) .

•  Sahu, A.K., and Ergas, S.J. (2005) “Hydrogenotrophic Wastewater Denitrification Using a Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor (HFMB),” Proc. 78 th Annual Meeting of the Water Environment Federation (WEFTEC 05) , Oct. 29-Nov. 2, Washington , DC .

•  Lopez-Luna, E.L., Ergas, S.J., and Sengupta, S. (2005) “Autotrophic sulfur oxidizing denitrification for total nitrogen removal in on site wastewater treatment systems,” Proc. 78 th Annual Meeting of the Water Environment Federation (WEFTEC 05) , Oct. 29-Nov. 2, Washington , DC .

•  Sahu A. K. and Ergas, S.J. (2005) “Autotrophic Biological Perchlorate Reduction Using Elemental Sulfur” Water Resources Research Conference (WRRC) , October 21, University of Massachusetts , Amherst .

•  Min, K., S.J. Ergas, J.F. Holden, G. Parthasarathy (2005) Microbial Characteristics and Effects on Membrane Permeate Flux in Membrane Bioreactor (MBR), Proc. North American Membrane Society Annual Meeting , Providence RI, June 11-15.

•  Sahu, A.K. and S.J. Ergas (2005) Wastewater Denitrification Using Hydrogen in a Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor, Proc. North American Membrane Society Annual Meeting , Providence RI , June 11-15.

•  Ergas, S.J. and Sengupta, S. (2005) Biological Denitrification in On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems,” Denitrification Systems: New Technologies and Alternatives to Traditional Septic Systems Workshop , Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Falmouth MA , March 15, 2005.

•  Ergas, S.J. (2004) “Nitrogen and On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems, Water Resources Research Center Conference , University of Massachusetts , Amherst , October 22, 2004.

•  Ergas, S.J., Lopez-Luna, E.L, Sahu, S.K. (2004) “Water Treatment: Emerging Issues”, Annual Conference on Watershed Conservation , University of Massachusetts , Amherst , Sept. 17. 2004.

•  Monserrate, M. and Ergas, S.J. (2004) “Natural Attenuation of Acid Mine Drainage:  Column Studies of Sulfate Reducing Bacteria,” 20th Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments and Water , October 18-21, 2004, University of Massachusetts at Amherst .

•  Sengupta, S., Ergas, S.J., Lopez-Luna,E., Wood, J., Sahu, A.K., Palaniswamy, K. (2004) “Autotrophic Biological Denitrification for Complete Removal of Nitrogen from Septic System Wastewater,” Proc. 36 th Mid-Atlantic Industrial and Hazardous Waste Conference , October 7-8, Storrs CT.

•  Min, K. and Ergas, S.J. (2004) “Membrane Bioreactor for VOC Reduction and Wastewater Reuse in the Chemical Manufacturing Industry,” Gordon Research Conference: Membranes: Materials & Processes, August 1-6, 2004, Colby-Sawyer College , New London , NH .

•  Lopez-Luna, E.L., Ergas, S.J., Sengupta, S. and Wood, J. (2005) “Autotrophic denitrification for total nitrogen removal in on site wastewater treatment systems,” New England Water Environment Association Annual Conference , Boston MA Jan 23-26.

•  Min, K. and S.J. Ergas (2004) “VOC Emission Reduction Using Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) in Chemical Manufacturing Industry,” Proc. 36 th Mid-Atlantic Industrial and Hazardous Waste Conference , October 7-8, Storrs CT.

•  Min, K., Ergas, S.J. (2004) “Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) for VOC Emission Reduction and Wastewater Reuse in the Chemical Manufacturing Industry,” Proc. 77 th Annual Meeting of the Water Environment Federation (WEFTEC 04) , October 2-6, New Orleans , LA.

•  Yuretich, R., S.J. Ergas, D.P. Ahlfeld, K.R.L. Nusslein, A.P. Feldman (2004) “Environmental Consequences of Acidic Drainage from Davis Pyrite Mine, Rowe, Massachusetts ,” Proc. 32 nd session of the International Geological Congress , Florence, Italy, August 20-28, 2004.

•  Ergas, S.J., Monserrate, M., Forloney, K., Ahlfeld, D.P., Nüsslein, K.R.L., Yuretich, R.F., (2004) “Natural attenuation of acid mine drainage by acidophilic and acidotolerant Fe(III)- and sulfate-reducing bacteria,” Proc. 228 th American Chemical Society National Meeting , August 22-26, Philadelphia , PA.

•  Yuretich, R., D. Ahlfeld, S.J. Ergas, K. Nüsslein and A.P. Feldman (2003) “Analysis of Biogeochemistry of Acid-Mine Drainage at Rowe, Massachusetts ,” Proc. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting , December 8-12, San Francisco , CA .

•  Leshem, E.M., S.J. Ergas, D.A. Reckhow, D.S. Pines (2003) “Electrochemical Oxidation and Ozonation for Textile Wastewater Reuse,” Proc. 35 th Mid-Atlantic Industrial and Hazardous Waste Conference , Brooklyn , NY , August 26-27.

•  Ergas, S.J. Reuss, A.F. and Rheinheimer, D.E. (2003) “Drinking Water Denitrification Using Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactors,” Proc. 21 st Annual BCC Membrane Separations Technology Planning Conference , Dec. 1-2, Newton MA .

•  Pines, D.S., K-N Min, D.A. Reckhow and S.J. Ergas (2003) “Investigation of Ozone Membrane Contactor,” International Ozone Association 16th World Congress , September 1-5, 2003, Las Vegas , Nevada .

•  Min, K-N, S.J. Ergas and J.M. Harrison (2002) “Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor for Nitric Oxide Removal,” Proc. 20 th Annual BCC Membrane Separations Technology Planning Conference , Nov. 18-19, Newton MA .

•  Leshem, E.N., S.J. Ergas, D.A.Reckhow (2002) “Textile Wastewater Recycling by Electrochemical Oxidation,” Electrochemical Methods for Wastewater and Potable Water Treatment Symposium, Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society 224: 064-ENVR Part 1 Aug 18 2002.

•  Ergas, S.J., Leshem, E.N., Reckhow, D.A., Pines, D. (2002) “Zero Discharge in the Textile Industry,” National Environmental Technology Institute Research Symposium 2002 , June 3 2002, Amherst MA .

•  Min, K-N, S.J. Ergas and J.M. Harrison (2002) “Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor for Nitric Oxide Removal,” Proc. 95 th Annual Meeting of the Air & Waste Management Association , Baltimore , MD.

•  Falk, M.W., S.J. Ergas (2002) “Hydrogentrophic Denitrification Using a Dead End Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor,” Proc. New England Water Environment Association Annual Conference , January 27-30, Boston , Massachusetts .

•  Falk, M.W., S.J. Ergas (2002) “Hydrogentrophic Denitrification Using a Dead End Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor,” Proc. American Water Works Association Annual Meeting , June 16-20, New Orleans , Louisiana .

•  Ergas, S.J., K-N Min, and J.M. Harrison (2002) “Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor for Nitric Oxide Removal,” North American Membrane Society 13 th Annual Meeting , Long Beach , CA , May 11-15, 2002.

•  Leshem, E., B.M. Therriault, S.J. Ergas and D.A. Reckhow (2001) “Evaluation of Technologies for Zero Discharge in the Textile Industry,” Proc. Green Chemistry Research Symposium , October 29-30, Conte Center for Polymer Research, Amherst , MA .

•  Ergas, S.J. (2001) “Membrane Bioreactors for Biological Air Pollution Control,” Proc. 2001 North American Membrane Society Meeting , May 16-18 2001, Lexington Kentucky .

•  Ergas, S.J., Reuss, A.F. and Rheinheimer, D.E. (2001) “Drinking Water Denitrification Using Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactors,” Proc. 2001 American Water Works Association Membrane Technology Conference , March 4-7 2001, San Antonio TX .

•  Keskiner, Y. and S.J. Ergas (2001) “Control of Ammonia and NO x Emissions Using a Nitrifying Membrane Bioreactor,” Proc. 94 th Annual Meeting of the Air & Waste Management Association , Orlando FL.

•  Keskiner, Y. and S.J. Ergas (2000) “Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor for Aqueous and Gas Phase Ammonia Removal by Nitrification,” Proc. 32 nd Mid-Atlantic Industrial and Hazardous Waste Conference , Troy NY .

•  Reyes, P.O., S.J. Ergas, and T.E. Djaferis (2000) “An Automatic Moisture Control System for Biofiltration,” Proc. 93 rd Annual Meeting of the Air & Waste Management Association , Salt Lake City UT.

•  Dolasa, A. and S.J. Ergas (1999) “Membrane Bioreactor for TCE Cometabolism with Toluene,” Proc. 92nd Annual Meeting of the Air and Waste Management Association , St. Louis , MO.

•  Reyes, P.O., S.J. Ergas, and T.E. Djaferis (1999) “Developing a Moisture Content Feedback Control System for Biofiltration,” Proc. 31 st Mid-Atlantic Industrial and Hazardous Waste Conference , Storrs , CT , pp. 14-24.

•  Ergas, S.J., L. Shumway, M.W. Fitch, and J.J. Neemann (1998) “Membrane Process for Biological Treatment of Contaminated Airstreams,” Proc. 91st Annual Meeting of the Air & Waste Management Association , San Diego , CA .

•  Cárdenas-González, B., S.J. Ergas, and M.S. Switzenbaum (1998) “Correlation of Biofilter Media Characteristics to Biofilter Performance,” Proc. 91st Annual Meeting of the Air and Waste Management Association , San Diego , CA .

•  Cárdenas-González, B., S.J. Ergas, M.S. Switzenbaum and N. Phillibert (1998) “Media Characterization and Evaluation of Full-Scale Biofilter Performance,” 1998 USC-TRG Conference on Biofiltration, Los Angeles , CA .

•  Ergas, S.J. and S.C. Long (1998) “Pollution Prevention: A Model for Interdisciplinary Team Activities,” Proc. 1998 Annual Conference of the American Society for Engineering Education New England Section , Amherst , MA .

•  Ergas, S.J. and S.C. Long (1998) “Pollution Prevention: A Model for Interdisciplinary Team Activities,” Presented at the 91 st Annual Meeting of the Air & Waste Management Association , San Diego , CA .

•  Cárdenas-González, B., S.J. Ergas, and M.S. Switzenbaum (1997) “Characterization of Compost Biofilter Media,” Proc. 90th Annual Meeting of the Air and Waste Management Association , Toronto , Ontario .

•  Ergas, S.J. (1997) “Biological Control of Air Pollutants,” Proc. New England Society for Industrial Microbiology Special Colloquium , Amherst , MA .

•  Ergas, S.J. (1996) “How Do I Teach Air Pollution Control?” Association of Environmental Engineering Professors Teaching Workshop , Orono , Maine .

•  Tehrany, J.P., P.O. Reyes, S.J. Ergas, and D.W. Ostendorf (1996) “Evaluation of Surface Emissions from Bioventing Sites,” Proc. 89th Annual Meeting of the Air and Waste Management Association , Nashville , TN.

•  Leson, G. and Ergas, S.J. (1996) “Recent Advances in Biological Air Pollution Control,” 89th Annual Meeting of the Air and Waste Management Association , Nashville , TN.

•  McGrath, M.S . and S.J. Ergas (1995) “Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor for Control of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions,” Proc. 88th Annual Meeting of the Air and Waste Management Association , San Antonio , TX .

•  Ergas, S.J., E.D. Schroeder, D.P.Y. Chang, and K.M. Scow (1994) “Spatial Distribution of Microorganisms in Biofilters,” Proc. 87th Annual Meeting of the Air and Waste Management Association , Cincinnati , OH .

•  Schroeder, E.D., D.P.Y. Chang, S.J. Ergas, K.A. Kinney, and K.M. Scow (1994) “Biofiltration for the Cleanup of VOC Impacted Airstreams,” Proceedings of Hazmacon ‘94 , Association of Bay Area Governments, San Jose , CA.

•  Ergas, S.J., K. Kinney, M.E. Fuller, and K.M. Scow (1994) “Control of Dichloromethane Emissions Using Biofiltration,” Proc. I&EC Special Symposium , American Chemical Society, Atlanta , GA.

•  Ergas, S.J., E.D. Schroeder, and D.P.Y. Chang (1993) “Control of Air Emissions of Dichloromethane, Trichloroethene, and Toluene by Biofiltration,” Proc. 86th Annual Meeting of the Air and Waste Management Association , Denver, CO.

•  Ergas, S.J., E.D. Schroeder, D.P.Y. Chang, and R. Morton (1992) “Control of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from a POTW Using a Compost Biofilter,” Proc. 85th Annual Meeting of the Air and Waste Management Association , 92-116.02, Kansas City , MO.

•  Card, T.R., D. Cagwin, J. Witherspoon, D. P.Y. Chang, and S.J. Ergas (1992) “Air Toxics and Related Compounds: Control of Emissions,” Proc. 65th Annual Water Environment Federation Meeting , New Orleans , LA .

•  Schroeder, E.D., S.J. Ergas, D.P.Y. Chang, and R. Morton (1992) “Control of VOC Emissions from a POTW Using a Compost Biofilter,” Proc. 65th Annual Water Environment Federation Meeting , New Orleans , LA .

•  Ergas, S.J., E.D. Schroeder, and D.P.Y. Chang (1991) “VOC Emission Control at Wastewater Treatment Facilities Using Biofiltration,” Proc. 84th Annual Meeting of the Air and Waste Management Association , Vancouver , B.C.