UMass Environmental Engineering Research Site

Sarina Ergas

Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Research Areas
Wastewater; Environmental Biology; Drinking Water

Research Projects

Graduate Students & Post Docs

Selected Publications

Journal Publications
Books and Chapters in Books
Conference Proceedings & Presentations

Research Projects: Recent and On-going

Biogeochemistry of Fe(III) and sulfate reduction in extreme acidic environments (Richard F. Yuretich, Sarina J. Ergas, Klaus R.L. Nusslein, Allan Feldman and David P. Ahlfeld) National Science Foundation

Use of Sulfur Oxidizing Denitrifying Bioretention Systems for Control of Non-point Sources of Nitrogen, (Sarina J. Ergas, Sukalyan Sengupta, UMass/Dartmouth, PIs) Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors for Treatment and Reclamation of Domestic Wastewater, National Science Foundation-CONACyt Collaborative Research Program, PI (Co-PI Michael Switzenbaum, Collaborators Adaberto Noylola, and Juan Morgan UNAM, Mexico )

Autotrophic Biological Denitrification for Complete Removal of Nitrogen from Septic System Wastewater, (Sarina J. Ergas, Sukalyan Sengupta, UMass/Dartmouth, PIs) Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA

Graduate Students & Post Docs

 

Selected Publications

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 & 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.

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