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FGCU continues work on Blue Pole/call box outage. Do not use these devices. In an emergency, dial 911/UPD @ 239-590-1900 or Guardian Eagle App.

Lauren Redfern, Ph.D.

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Research Projects

Hydrophobic Aerogels for the Removal of Persistent Organic Pollutants During the Pre-treatment of Landfill Leachate

In this project, we will investigate an advanced, practical and potentially cost-effective sorption technology for removing persistent organic pollutants (POPs) during the pre-treatment of landfill leachate, thereby reducing the burden on the wastewater treatment plant and reducing the environmental release. Sorption based methods of pre-treatment are cost competitive, do not require energy input or sophisticated handling, have the potential for reuse, and have been proven successful in leachate pre-treatment. In particular, aerogels are silica nanomaterials characterized by having extremely high porosities and low densities, high specific surface areas, high dielectric strengths, and low thermal conductivities (Barrios et al. 2019). These properties make aerogels competitive sorbent materials for industrial waste pre-treatment, though this concept is still unexplored, especially for leachate treatment. The end goal of this research is to provide design criteria for aerogel deployment to sorb and remove POPs from leachate during pretreatment, thereby reducing leachate environmental impacts. 

This work is being funded by The Hinkley Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste Management (www.hinkleycenter.org).

Redfern picture
Co-Investigator
Office: HE 422
Phone: 239-590-7590
E-mail: lredfern@fgcu.edu
Osman Pic
Co-Investigator
Office: HE 421
Phone: 239-590-7583
E-mail: okaratum@fgcu.edu

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  • Students

Evaluation and Optimization of Floating Aquatic Treatment Wetlands for Phytoremediation Pre-treatment of Municipal Landfill Leachate Employing Saline-tolerant Plants Natural to South Florida

This study explores a low-cost, low-maintenance, floating wetland treatment system that has the potential to passively treat leachate in ponds, reducing inorganic nitrogen and COD loading before discharge to POTW. The end goal of this research is to provide design criteria for floating treatment wetlands so that landfill managers can reduce leachate management costs by pre-treating their leachate using this type of system.

Ashley Thomson Pic
Co-Investigator
Office: HE 413
Phone: 239-745-4390
E-mail: athomson@fgcu.edu
Lauren Redfern Pic
Co-Investigator
Office: HE 422
Phone: 239-590-7590
E-mail: lredfern@fgcu.edu

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  • Students

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