May 2022
Host: The WDRC Students Committee
Abstract:
In
a majority of countries in the Arab world, the poorly restricted use
and release of emerging chemical contaminants (including
pharmaceuticals/antibiotics) causes a significantly higher occurrence of
these pollutants in wastewater streams than is seen in other parts of
the world. Given that conventional wastewater treatment does not target
the removal of such compounds, the lack of upstream regulation in the
Arab world makes their potential environmental and human health impacts
much more acute. Among these impacts is a direct contribution to the
spread of antibiotic resistance.
Mainstream anaerobic wastewater treatment technologies such as the anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) can serve to reduce dependence on compromised traditional water resources by allowing for direct (non-potable) effluent reuse. Anaerobic biotechnologies have also shown great promise for removing specific emerging contaminants that tend to be persistent in conventional and aerobic treated effluents. Still, the basis of their removal using systems such as the AnMBR is not well understood (i.e., to what extent the anerobic bioprocess plays a role and what the compounds are transformed into). Recent evidence has shown that membrane biofilms in AnMBRs may play a greater role in the removal process than previously thought. Whether such biofilms can be developed without detrimentally affecting transmembrane pressure, however, remains to be determined.
Bio:
Moustapha
Harb is an Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
at the Lebanese American University (LAU) in Byblos, Lebanon. He
received his Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Engineering from King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in 2017. He holds
B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Houston (Civil and
Environmental Engineering, respectively). Prior to joining LAU, Dr. Harb
served as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of
Southern California (USC). He also has over five years of experience as a
Professional Engineer in the State of Texas, with design and consulting
expertise in the areas of water resources and environmental
engineering. Dr. Harb's research is centered on evaluating sustainable
wastewater treatment technologies and their microbial communities, as
well as their potential to mitigate for contaminants of emerging
concern.
Light refreshments will be provided.