Emerging Contaminant Removal

Applied research focused on developing advanced treatment technologies for contaminants of emerging concern in water systems, supporting industry and municipal environmental solutions.

Industry Problem

Pharmaceuticals, personal-care products, pesticides, and industrial solvents can persist through conventional treatment and move through water systems.
Research Approach

Advanced oxidation, photocatalytic enhancement, and a UV/hydrogen-peroxide approach that improves contaminant degradation using existing infrastructure.
Industry Impact

Field trials have advanced treatment of sulfolane-impacted water and soils toward commercial application with industrial partners.

Research Focus

Municipal Wastewater

Research examines treatment of pharmaceuticals, personal-care products, pesticides, and other contaminants that conventional systems may not fully remove.

Advanced Oxidation

UV, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and photocatalytic processes are evaluated to improve contaminant degradation using practical treatment configurations.

Sulfolane Treatment

Field-tested physicochemical and biological approaches address sulfolane in industrial water and soil environments.

Applied Outcomes

The program connects laboratory studies with pilot-scale validation and field application. A UV and hydrogen-peroxide approach has been evaluated as a way to improve treatment performance within existing infrastructure, while sulfolane work has progressed through extensive field trials and industry adoption.

Explore a Treatment Challenge

Discuss emerging-contaminant treatment needs with the Achari Research Group.

Propose a Challenge