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Dr. Sarina J. Ergas, P.E.

 Associate Professor

College of Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Massachusetts Amherst
18B Marston Hall
130 Natural Resources Road
Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
E-Mail: ergas@ecs.umass.edu

Phone: (413) 545-3424
Fax: (413) 545-2202

 

Full Curriculum Vitae
Course Websites

Research Interests

  • Biological water and wastewater treatment
  • Membrane biotreatment systems
  • Bioremediation of contaminated soil and groundwater
  • Biological air pollution control
  • Biological drinking water treatment
  • Remediation of acid mine drainage sites

Education

B.S. Environmental Engineering. Humboldt State University, 1988.
M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering. University of California at Davis, 1990.
Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering. University of California at Davis, 1993.

Professional Experience

  • Associate Professor,  University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2000 to present
  • Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1994-2000
  • Research Assistant, University of California, Davis, 1988-93
  • Engineering Assistant, Indian Health Service, Phoenix Arizona, 1987

Recent Papers Published

Min, K-N, Ergas, S.J., Mermelstein, A. (2008) “Impact of Dissolved Oxygen Concentration on Membrane Filtering Resistance and Soluble Organic Compound Characteristics in MBRs,” Water Science & Technology, 57(2):161-165.

Sengupta, S., Ergas, S.J. and Lopez-Luna, E. (2007) “Investigation of Solid-Phase Buffers for Sulfur-Oxidizing Autotrophic Denitrification,” Water Environment Research, 79(13): 2519-2526.

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 & Engineering, 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.

Recent Conference Proceedings

Conneely, T., Sahu, A.K.  Nüsslein, K. and Ergas, S. J. (2008) Hydrogenotrophic Reduction of Nitrate and Perchlorate in Ion Exchange Brines Using Batch Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor, Proc. 2008 IWA Membrane Research Conference, Amherst, MA, August 10-13.

Conneely, T., Sahu, A.K.  Nüsslein, K. and Ergas, S. J. (2008) A Novel Perchlorate-Reducing Microbial Consortium using Elemental Sulfur, Proceedings of the American Society of Microbiology General Meeting, Boston, MA, June 1-5.

Conneely, T.A., Sahu, A.K., Ergas, S.J., Nüsslein, K. (2007) “Perchlorate Remediation using a Novel Autotrophic, Perchlorate-Reducing Microbial Community,” Proc. 23rd Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments and Water, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Oct 15-18.

Conneely, T.A., Nüsslein, K., Sahu, A.K., Ergas, S.J. (2007) “Investigating a perchlorate-reducing microbial community that thrives on elemental sulfur,” Water Resources Research Conference (WRRC), April 9, 2007, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

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.

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.

Sahu, A.K., Ergas, S.J. and Sengupta, S. (2007) “Hydrogenotrophic Denitrification of Wastewater Using a Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor,” Proc. International Conference on Membranes for Water and Wastewater Treatment, Harrogate, U.K., May 15-17, 2007.

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.

Sahu, A.K. and Ergas, S.J. (2006) “Perchlorate Reduction in a Packed Bed Bioreactor Using Elemental Sulfur”, Proc. 22nd Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments and Water, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, October 16-19.

Sahu, A.K. and Ergas, S.J. (2006) “Biological Reduction of Perchlorate Contaminated Waters Using Elemental Sulfur”, Proc. 5th 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. 78th Annual Meeting of the Water Environment Federation (WEFTEC 05), Oct. 29-Nov. 2, Washington, DC, pp. 2183-2195.

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. 78th Annual Meeting of the Water Environment Federation (WEFTEC 05), Oct. 29-Nov. 2, Washington, DC, pp. 2055-2073.

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. 36th Mid-Atlantic Industrial and Hazardous Waste Conference, October 7-8, Storrs CT.

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. 36th 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. 77th 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. 32nd 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. 228th 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. 35th 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. 21st 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.

Recent Research Contracts Funded

A Novel Method for Biological Perchlorate Reduction Using Elemental Sulfur as an Electron Donor, National Science Foundation, PI (Co-PI: K. Nüsslein), 6/08-5/10, $300,000.

Expanding the Engineering Pipeline by Recruiting, Mentoring and Graduating Transfer Students, National Science Foundation, PI (Co-PIs: K. Rubin, S. Roberts, N. Anderson, J. Rinderle), 9/07-8/12, $598,181.

Support for 2008 North American Membrane Research Conference, University of Massachusetts Research Leadership Award, PI, 5/07-9/08, $5,000.

Use of Sulfur Oxidizing Denitrifying Bioretention Systems for Control of Non-point Sources of Nitrogen, Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Co-PI (PI Sukalyan Sengupta, UMass/Dartmouth), 9/06-8/08, $189,098.

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), $106,000, 1/04-6/07.

Autotrophic Biological Denitrification for Complete Removal of Nitrogen from Septic System Wastewater, Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Co-PI (PI Sukalyan Sengupta, UMass/Dartmouth), 9/03-2/06,  $212,762.

Biogeochemistry of Fe(III) and sulfate in extreme acidic environments, NSF Biocomplexity in the Environment Program, Co-PI (Richard Yuretich, PI; David Ahlfeld, Allan Feldman, Klaus Nusslein, Jonathan R. Lloyd, Co-PIs), 9/1/02-12/31/07, $ 1,625,000.

Unrestricted Grant for Research, Compact Membrane Systems, $50,000, PI, 7/04.

Membrane Bioreactor Technology for Water Reuse in the Chemical Industry: Phase II Evaluation of Thermophilic MBR Systems, National Environmental Technology for Waste Prevention Institute, PI (Co-PI James Holden, Microbiology, UMass), 9/03-8/04, $45,000.

Membrane Bioreactor Technology for Water Reuse in the Chemical Industry, National Environmental Technology for Waste Prevention Institute, PI, 9/02-8/03, $50,000.

NSF Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematical Scholarships (CSEMS) Program, Co-investigator (PI: Donald F. St. Mary, Other co-investigators: Kathleen Rubin, Corrado Poli,David Mix Barrington), 2/00-1/06, $895,000.

Development of a Cost Effective Water Reclamation System for Aquaculture, Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture, Co-PI (Josh Goldman, Fins Technology Inc. PI), 4/02-3/03, $23,420.

Recent Honors and Awards

  • 2007/2008 Fulbright Fellow, Technion University, Haifa Israel.
  • ASCE ExCEEd (Excellence in Civil Engineering Education) Fellow, 2005.
  • CEE Advisory Committee Service Award, 2004.

Links
Course Websites

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