Doctoral Students:
Tanja Rauch-Williams, Ph.D.
(graduated in Spring 2005)
Current Employer: Carollo Engieers, Broomfiled, CO 
Research Interests:
One major water quality issue associated with groundwater recharge projects leading to indirect potable reuse of wastewater effluents is organic carbon. Removal of bulk organic matter during groundwater recharge is essential in order to avoid deterioration of the local aquifer quality and to meet current state regulation standards at the point of extraction. Organic carbon is mainly removed during subsurface travel by biological transformation and degradation. The objective of my current research is to understand how organic carbon degradation can be predicted during soil infiltration and how the organic carbon composition in effluents influences the removal of organic micropollutants during groundwater recharge. A novel analytical approach has been developed for this purpose combining state-of-the-art chemical characterization tools and biomass activity indicators. Research was conducted under controlled conditions in a variety of laboratory soil columns as well as at water reuse field sites in Arizona and California.
Masters Thesis Students:
Tyson Ingels, M.S.
(graduated in December 2006)
Current Employer: Malcolm-Pirnie, Denver, CO
My research focused on optimization of coagulation/flocculation using state-of-the-art floc characterization tools allowing real-time assessment of the goodness of floc formation. My research is funded by Awwa Research Foundation.
Matt Oedekoven, M.S.
(graduated in December 2005)
Current Employer: Blasland, Bouck & Lee, Inc., Denver, CO 
My research was directed to study the rejection of hydrophobic trace pollutants in nanofiltration/reverse osmosis membranes. This study was conducted at the bench-scale using a OSMONICS SEPA flat-sheet test unit as well as on the pilot-scale using spiral wound elements. The main focus of this research was on factors driving rejection of hydrophobic organic compounds. My research has been funded by the WateReuse Foundation..
Stephan Wagner, Dipl. Ing.
(Exchange Program Dresden University of Technology, graduated in December 2006)
Current Employer: Grundwasserforschungsinstitut, Dresden, Germany
Sorption has a retardation effect on micropollutant transport and can be interpreted as a sink for micropollutants within natural systems. Evaluating the sorption potential of the target micropollutants was an important objective of my studies. Target compounds selected for my study represented intermediate hydrophobic and hydrophilic pharmaceuticals which have been found in a number of surface waters like wastewater effluents. It is already known that at high concentration dissolved organic carbon influences the sorption of hydrophobic compounds. Another objective of my studies was the impact of dissolved organic carbon at natural concentrations on intermediate hydrophobic compounds. My research investigated the effect of secondary wastewater effluent and hydrophobic acids derived from secondary wastewater effluent on the transport of pharmaceuticals through saturated media. Aquifer transport was simulated in column experiments. The results will help to predict the fate of pharmaceuticals during riverbank filtration or soil aquifer treatment. Furthermore, they will help to understand retention mechanisms of organic micropollutants better.
Sarah J. Ladenburger, M.S.
(graduated in Spring 2005)
Current Employer: Denver Water, Denver, CO 
The objective of my research was to investigate the fate and transport of hormones (17b-Estradiol, estrone, estriol, testosterone and the synthetic hormone 17a-Ethinylestradiol), in wastewater treatment unit operations. Samples for this study were collected at different water reclamation facilities across the U.S. Analysis of the water samples collected was conducted using C18 SPE concentration followed by HPLC clean up using a SEC and reverse phase column to isolate hormone fractions. The isolated fractions were then be analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA’s) specific to each hormone. Split samples were provided to our collaborators at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene in Madison, WI for GC-MS analysis and bioassays (E-screen, Yeast assay, and frog assay).
Andreas Gruber-Waltl, M.S.
(Exchange Program University of Leoben, Austria)
(graduated in Spring 2004)
The objective of my research was to construct and start-up a 4-gpm water treatment pilot plant at Golden's Water Treatment Plant. The pilot plant is designed to simulate conventional and advanced water treatment unit operations to treat mountain run-off. The pilot plant is capable of 24/7 operation due to SCADA systems which allows remoteless operation through the world wide web. For further details see Integrated Environmental Teaching Laboratory
Jessica Mansell, M.S.
(graduated in Fall 2003)
Current Employer: CDM, Phoenix, AZ
Master Non-Thesis Students:
Jonathan Luna M.S.
(graduated in Spring 2004)
The recent detection of a variety of chemicals in municipal wastewater effluent has raised concerns about the potential presence of wastewater-derived chemical contaminants in water produced by indirect potable reuse systems. Regulatory agencies and utilities have struggled with this issue because the wastewater-derived chemicals often are present at extremely low concentrations and no standardized analytical methods are available. My research was directed to develop monitoring programs for wastewater-derived contaminants that can be used to assess the performance of indirect potable reuse systems
Kanit Niphanphaisarn M.S.
(Independent Study - IETL Golden Water Treatment Plant,
(graduated in Fall 2002)
Josef Mitterwallner M.S.
(Exchange Program Leoben, Austria)
(graduated in Fall 2002)
Undergraduate Students:
Nate Rothe B.S.
(graduated in Spring 2003)
Eleanor Key B.S.
Justin Buck B.S.
Visiting Research Scholars:
Stephan Wagner, Dipl.Ing.
(Exchange Program Dresden University of Technology, Germany)
Sorption has a retardation effect on micropollutant transport and can be interpreted as a sink for micropollutants within natural systems. Evaluating the sorption potential of the target micropollutants was an important objective of my studies. Target compounds were intermediate hydrophobic and hydrophilic pharmaceuticals which have been found in a number of surface waters like wastewater effluents. It is already known that at high concentration dissolved organic carbon influences the sorption of hydrophobic compounds. Another objective of my studies was the impact of dissolved organic carbon at natural concentrations on intermediate hydrophobic compounds. My research investigated the effect of secondary wastewater effluent and hydrophobic acids derived from secondary wastewater effluent on the transport of pharmaceuticals through saturated media. Aquifer transport was simulated in column experiments.
Elin Larsson M.S. and Johanna Persson M.S.
(Exchange Program University of Lulea, Sweden)
(graduated in Fall 2004)
Our research was directed to establish and operate a pilot-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) designed for onsite wastewater treatment systems. The MBR is employed at the CSM Mines Park Onsite Wastewater Treatment Test Site.
Stephanie Ledeur
(University of Rennes, France; visiting May - Aug 2002)
Delphine Riviere
(University of Poitiers, France; visiting June - Sept 2003)
Jonathan Munoz, Ph.D. Candidate
(Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Korea; visiting April - October, 2004)
Genevieve Dabbadie and Christophe Jacues
(University of Poitiers, France; visiting June - Sept 2005)
