Werth Research

Charles Werth holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University, an M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Environmental from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. minor in Chemistry from Stanford University. He has been on the faculty of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign since 1997, and currently holds the rank of Professor. Professor Werth is a recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Arthur and Virginia Nauman Faculty Scholar Award, the Humbolt Research Fellow Award, and the BP Award for Innovation in Undergraduate Instruction.

Professor Werth’s research focuses on the transport and fate organic chemicals in the environment, and on the development of sustainable technologies for pollution abatement. Specific areas of interest include the study of reactive transport mechanisms of pollutants in porous media, development of catalytic reduction technologies for oxyanions and halogenated organics, and the fate of legacy/emerging pollutants in natural systems and engineered watersheds. Professor Werth has authored more than 50 refereed journal publications and has contributed to two chapters in these research areas.

Professor Werth is currently the Chair of the Environmental Engineering and Science Program at Illinois. Also, he currently serves as Associate Editor for Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, and Secretary for the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors’ Foundation.

A large number of pollutants are present in natural waters, each often at concentrations below ppb levels. One example is 17-b-estradiol, an endocrine disrupting compound. In current work we are developing a sensor for this analyte by coupling the in-line mixing and separation capabilities of microfluidics, with highly specific binding of DNA-aptamers attached to magnetic beads. The microfluidic devices allow the magnetic-bead bound aptamers to be efficiently mixed with sample water containing the analyte of interest, and for the analyte-aptamer-bead complex to be concentrated in a magnetic field for enhanced sensitivity. The DNA-aptamer allows for highly specific binding to the analyte, and for fluorescent signaling when bound to the analyte. The development of in-line sensors is crucial for monitoring the performance of water treatment processes, providing clean, safe water, and ensuring public confidence in water supplies.

Oxyanions such as nitrate and perchlorate are common contaminants in both surface and ground water. The accepted approach for removing them from drinking water is ion exchange. However, this produces a concentrated brine that requires further treatment or disposal. We are currently investigating sustainable catalytic technologies for reduction of oxyanion pollutants in drinking water. The three primary challenges of catalytic reduction technologies are faster kinetics, reduced fouling, and efficient regeneration. In previous work we identified palladium and indium as the optimal metals for nitrate reduction, due to their high activity and stability during oxidative regeneration. In current work, we are exploring the use of new reactive metal combinations, and novel catalyst supports, to address mitigate catalyst fouling. One approach we are taking is to load active metals inside carbon nanotubes to prevent fouling by reduced sulfur species.

Mitigation of Pollutant Impacts in Urban Watersheds. Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been increasing in recent decades in many urban lakes and streams, particularly in areas with rapid urbanization. Surface runoff of carbonaceous material (CM) particles is the most important pathway for the entry of PAHs into these fresh water sources. Efforts have been made to measure PAH concentrations in a variety of CMs to identify dominant sources; however, the types, amounts, and origins of PAH-associated CM particles in urban lake and stream sediments, and their relative contributions to PAH contamination remain unclear. In current work we are identifying the sources and distribution of CM particles in a small urban watershed, and PAH loadings on these particles. We recently found that CM particles associated with coal-tar sealcoats used on paved surfaces can dominate PAH loadings in urban lakes. We are exploring new best management strategies to capture these particles before they can impact urban water quality, including a new green roof on the Business Instructional Facility at the University of Illinois.