Christos Christodoulatos
Professor
Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science
Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering
Research
Development of biological and physicochemical processes for water and wastewater with focus on treatment of industrial streams containing energetic compounds and nutrients. Bimetal catalysis for the reductive degradation and mineralization of organic pollutants. Surface modification of nanofibrils and biomaterials for the adsorption of ionic substances including recovery and reuse of ionic nutrients.
Sustainable practices at industrial facilities nutrient recovery and reuse. Waste valorization for generation of renewable resources. Reductive and oxidative conversion of energetic compounds such as RDX, Nitroglycerine, Nitrocellulose, NQ, DNAN, hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) in industrial production wastewater streams to carbon dioxide, nitrate and ammonia for the production of algal biomass.
Algae biomass growth and harvesting for biofuel production. Utilization of industrial wastewater as growth media for biomass generation. Investigation of cost effective methods of algae harvesting and concertation and their subsequent use for production of renewable energy via algal oil extraction and upgrade to biodiesel or biogas generation by anaerobic digestion.
Recovery of nutrients from inedible plant material (Life Support Systems for Space Travel, NASA): Determination of the biodegradation rates and waste treatment requirements of the inedible part of the biomass (stem and leaves). Waste treatment is part of a life support system where materials are continuously recycled and re-used. Total recycle of materials is extremely important for extended space travel and planet missions (e.g. a mission to Mars) where supplies cannot be routinely transported from the earth
Investigation of RDX and PAX-21 Propellant Treatment Methods: Cost analysis of treatment processes for the decontamination of RDX contaminated groundwater, and investigation of the biodegradability of the post hydrolysis products of groundwater treated with hydroxide solutions. Alkaline hydrolysis of PAX-21 propellant in batch reactors. Development of Large Volume, Ambient Pressure, Non Thermal Diffuse Plasma Reactor for Destruction of Airborn Environmental Contaminants in Advanced Life Support Systems: An investigation on the effectiveness and efficiency of a novel, non-thermal diffuse plasma technology for the destruction of environmental air contaminants in space applications. The plasma characteristics, plasma chemistry, contaminant destruction efficiency and reaction kinetics for various compounds expected to be present in advance life support environments are studied
Investigation of a Novel Capillary Non-Thermal, Ambient Pressure Plasma for Cleaning of Aluminum Surfaces: Development of a non-thermal diffuse plasma technology for the cleaning and decontamination of aluminum surfaces. Experiments are being conducted to determine the plasma characteristics necessary for the destruction of organic substances deposited on aluminum surface, to identify the proper plasma gases for effective removal, to determine the role of the surface on destruction efficiency, and to evaluate surface changes due to plasma irradiation
Use of Capillary Non-Thermal, Ambient Pressure Plasma in Decontamination of Water Recovered from Vehicle Exhaust: Investigate the potential role of diffused non-thermal plasma in the treatment of water condensate recovered from the exhaust of the diesel engines of Hum-Vee and other vehicles. One treatment scenario involves pre-treatment of the combustion mixture in order to increase the efficiency of combustion and thus reduce the concentration of undesirable organic products in the diesel exhaust gases. The second treatment scheme focuses on plasma treatment of the exhaust gases prior to condensation. Finally, a treatment system is investigated which treats the aqueous solution obtained from the condenser by continuously passing the vapors produced from the liquid phase through a plasma reactor in a closed loop configuration
Sustainable practices at industrial facilities nutrient recovery and reuse. Waste valorization for generation of renewable resources. Reductive and oxidative conversion of energetic compounds such as RDX, Nitroglycerine, Nitrocellulose, NQ, DNAN, hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) in industrial production wastewater streams to carbon dioxide, nitrate and ammonia for the production of algal biomass.
Algae biomass growth and harvesting for biofuel production. Utilization of industrial wastewater as growth media for biomass generation. Investigation of cost effective methods of algae harvesting and concertation and their subsequent use for production of renewable energy via algal oil extraction and upgrade to biodiesel or biogas generation by anaerobic digestion.
Recovery of nutrients from inedible plant material (Life Support Systems for Space Travel, NASA): Determination of the biodegradation rates and waste treatment requirements of the inedible part of the biomass (stem and leaves). Waste treatment is part of a life support system where materials are continuously recycled and re-used. Total recycle of materials is extremely important for extended space travel and planet missions (e.g. a mission to Mars) where supplies cannot be routinely transported from the earth
Investigation of RDX and PAX-21 Propellant Treatment Methods: Cost analysis of treatment processes for the decontamination of RDX contaminated groundwater, and investigation of the biodegradability of the post hydrolysis products of groundwater treated with hydroxide solutions. Alkaline hydrolysis of PAX-21 propellant in batch reactors. Development of Large Volume, Ambient Pressure, Non Thermal Diffuse Plasma Reactor for Destruction of Airborn Environmental Contaminants in Advanced Life Support Systems: An investigation on the effectiveness and efficiency of a novel, non-thermal diffuse plasma technology for the destruction of environmental air contaminants in space applications. The plasma characteristics, plasma chemistry, contaminant destruction efficiency and reaction kinetics for various compounds expected to be present in advance life support environments are studied
Investigation of a Novel Capillary Non-Thermal, Ambient Pressure Plasma for Cleaning of Aluminum Surfaces: Development of a non-thermal diffuse plasma technology for the cleaning and decontamination of aluminum surfaces. Experiments are being conducted to determine the plasma characteristics necessary for the destruction of organic substances deposited on aluminum surface, to identify the proper plasma gases for effective removal, to determine the role of the surface on destruction efficiency, and to evaluate surface changes due to plasma irradiation
Use of Capillary Non-Thermal, Ambient Pressure Plasma in Decontamination of Water Recovered from Vehicle Exhaust: Investigate the potential role of diffused non-thermal plasma in the treatment of water condensate recovered from the exhaust of the diesel engines of Hum-Vee and other vehicles. One treatment scenario involves pre-treatment of the combustion mixture in order to increase the efficiency of combustion and thus reduce the concentration of undesirable organic products in the diesel exhaust gases. The second treatment scheme focuses on plasma treatment of the exhaust gases prior to condensation. Finally, a treatment system is investigated which treats the aqueous solution obtained from the condenser by continuously passing the vapors produced from the liquid phase through a plasma reactor in a closed loop configuration
General Information
Dr. Christos Christodoulatos is the Director of the Center for Environmental Systems (CES) at Stevens Institute of Technology. From 2008 to 2016 he was Vice Provost for Innovation and Entrepreneurship leading the implementation of academic entrepreneurship through the creation of innovative curricula and overseeing the commercialization of the Institute’s intellectual property. He has been teaching and performing research in environmental engineering since 1988 and serves as a consultant to government and private organizations. He has developed and delivered entrepreneurship curricula and specialized innovation and entrepreneurship workshops for faculty, administration and technical entrepreneurs in Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. Dr. Christodoulatos has managed and executed over a hundred and fifty major research projects exceeding $60M. He is a founding member of two start-up companies for the commercialization of environmental technology. He holds several patents in water and air treatment technology and has authored over 160 articles in professional journals, conference proceedings, and handbooks. He has chaired a number of international conferences on environmental technology, he is a member of several professional organizations and serves as a reviewer to several journals.
Institutional Service
- Institute Promotion and Tenure Committee Member
- University Promotion and Tenure Committee Chair
- Research Committee 2018-present Member
- School of Engineering and Science Honors & Awards Committee Member
Professional Service
- International Conference Protection and Restoration of the Environment XVI that was held in Kalamata Greece July 5-8, 2022. Homepage http://www.prexvi.civil.upatras.gr/ Chair
- International Conference on Protection and Restoration of the Environment Chair
Consulting Service
Consultant in the areas of industrial wastewater, groundwater and soil treatment for various private companies and organizations including: Exxon Corporation, Florham Park, New JerseyPlasmSol Corporation., Hoboken, New Jersey
Fluid Packaging, Lakewood, New Jersey
Hydroglobe Corporation, New Jersey Fablok Mills Inc., Murray Hill, New Jersey
Fluid Packaging, Lakewood, New Jersey
Hydroglobe Corporation, New Jersey Fablok Mills Inc., Murray Hill, New Jersey
Honors and Awards
Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) since 2013.
Received the Founders Award, by the USA National Committee International Association on Water Quality for an outstanding paper in Water Research by a US author in 1994, for the paper: Correlations of Performance for Activated Sludge
Using Multiple Regression With Autocorrelation, Water Research, Vol 27 pp. 51-62, 1993. Stevens Teaching Award: September 2000.
Received the Founders Award, by the USA National Committee International Association on Water Quality for an outstanding paper in Water Research by a US author in 1994, for the paper: Correlations of Performance for Activated Sludge
Using Multiple Regression With Autocorrelation, Water Research, Vol 27 pp. 51-62, 1993. Stevens Teaching Award: September 2000.
Professional Societies
- American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) Member
- NAI – National Academy of Inventors Fellow
Grants, Contracts and Funds
Research grants and contracts received (1992-2020)
Total Funding Awarded as Principal Investigator: $5,884,368
Total Funding Awarded as Co-Principal Investigator: $3,134,096
Total Funding Awarded as Co-Investigator: $2,423,779
Total Funding Awarded as Principal Investigator: $5,884,368
Total Funding Awarded as Co-Principal Investigator: $3,134,096
Total Funding Awarded as Co-Investigator: $2,423,779
Patents and Inventions
"Method and apparatus for biological treatment of wastewater" with G. P. Korfiatis, (2000) "Method and apparatus for removing inorganic chemicals" with M. Dadachov. X. Meng and G. Korfiatis (2002).
Selected Publications
Book Chapter
- Koutsospyros, A. D.; Koutsospyros, D. A.; Strigul, N.; Braida, W.; Christodoulatos, C. (2019). Tungsten: Environmental pollution and health effects. Encyclopedia of Environmental Health (pp. 161-169).
Conference Proceeding
- Yannopoulos, P. C.; Economou, P.; Zacharias, I.; Manariotis, I. D.; Korfiatis, G.; Christodoulatos, C.; Koutsospyros, A. (2020). Protection and Restoration of the Environment XV. University of Patras, Greece.
- Ye, Z.; Abraham, J.; Christodoulatos, C.; Prigiobbe, V. (2019). Combining carbon mineralization with microalgae culture for biofuel production. BSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY (vol. 257). American Chemical Society.
Journal Article
- Abimbola, T.; Christodoulatos, C.; Lawal, A. (2023). Comparison of suspended versus immobilized digested sludge for 2-stage anaerobic digestion of algae. Chemical Engineering Science (vol. 274).
- Mai, A.; Hadnagy, E.; Shi, Q.; Ezeonu, L.; Robbins, J. P.; Podkolzin, S.; Koutsospyros, A.; Christodoulatos, C. (2023). Degradation and fate of 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) and its intermediates treated with Mg/Cu bimetal: Surface examination with XAS, DFT, and LDI-MS. Journal of Environmental Sciences (China) (vol. 129, pp. 161-173).
- Lawal, A.; Christodoulatos, C. (2023). Comparison of Suspended vs. Immobilized Digested Sludge for 2-Stage Anaerobic Digestion of Algae. Chemical Engineering Science (vol. 274, pp. 118694-118705). Pergamon.
- Abraham, J.; Prigiobbe, V.; Abindola, T.; Christodoulatos, C. (2022). Integrating biological and chemical CO2 sequestration for bioproducts generation. Frontiers in Climate. Frontiers.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fclim.2022.949411/abstract. - Caulfield, B.; Abraham, J.; Christodoulatos, C.; Prigiobbe, V. (2022). Enhanced precipitation of magnesium carbonates using carbonic anhydrase. Nanoscale. Royal Society of Chemistry.
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/nr/d2nr03199j/unauth. - Lin, Y.; Koutsospyros, A.; Braida, W.; Christodoulatos, C.; Terracciano, A.; Su, T. (2022). MicroAlgal Biofilm Reactor (MABR) – Evaluation of Biomass Support Materials and Nitrate Removal Performance. Environmental Processes. Springer Nature.
- Lin, Y.; Koutsospyros, A.; Braida, W.; Christodoulatos, C.; Terracciano, A.; Su, T. L. (2022). MicroAlgal Biofilm Reactor (MABR) – Evaluation of Biomass Support Materials and Nitrate Removal Performance. Environmental Processes (2 ed., vol. 9).
- Du, J.; Liu, Z.; Christodoulatos, C.; Conway, M.; Bao, Y.; Meng, W. (2022). Utilization of off-specification fly ash in preparing ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC): Mixture design, characterization, and life-cycle assessment. Resources, Conservation and Recycling (vol. 180).
- Terracciano, A.; Koutsospyros, A.; Christodoulatos, C.; Mai, A.; Meng, X.; Su, T. L.; Smolinski, B. (2022). Oxidative degradation of nitroguanidine (NQ) by UV-C and oxidants: Hydrogen peroxide, persulfate and peroxymonosulfate. Chemosphere (vol. 292).
- Terracciano, A.; Koutsospyros, A.; Christodoulatos, C.; Mai, A.; Meng, X.; Su, T. L.; Smolinski, B. (2022). Oxidative degradation of nitroguanidine (NQ) by UV-C and oxidants: Hydrogen peroxide, persulfate and peroxymonosulfate. Chemosphere (vol. 292).
- Mai, A.; Terracciano, A.; Abraham, J.; RoyChowdhury, A.; Koutsospyros, A.; Su, T. L.; Braida, W.; Christodoulatos, C.; Smolinski, B. (2022). Generation of biofuel from anaerobic digestion of Scenedesmus obliquus grown in energetic-laden industrial wastewater: Understanding microalgae strains, co-digestants, and digestate toxicity. Environmental Progress and Sustainable Energy (2 ed., vol. 41).
- Mai, A.; Hadnagy, E.; Abraham, J.; Terracciano, A.; Zheng, Z.; Smolinski, B.; Koutsospyros, A.; Christodoulatos, C. (2022). Determining degradation kinetics, byproducts and toxicity for the reductive treatment of Nitroguanidine (NQ) by magnesium-based bimetal Mg/Cu. Journal of Hazardous Materials (vol. 423).
- Mai, A.; Terracciano, A.; Abraham, J.; Roychowdhury, A.; Koutsospyros, A.; Su, T.; Braida, W.; Christodoulatos, C.; Smolinski, B. (2022). Generation of biofuel from anaerobic digestion of Scenedesmus obliquus grown in energetic-laden industrial wastewater: Understanding microalga strains, co-digestants, and digestate toxicity. Environ Progress Sustainable Energy. Springer Nature.
- Abimbola, T.; Lawal, A.; Christodoulatos, C. (2021). Performance and Optimization Studies of Oil Extraction from Nannochloropsis spp. and Scenedesmus obliquus. Journal of Cleaner Production (vol. 311, pp. 127295-127308). Elsevier.
- RoyChowdhury, A.; Mukherjee, P.; Panja, S.; Datta, R.; Christodoulatos, C.; Sarkar, D. (2020). Evidence for Phytoremediation and Phytoexcretion of NTO from Industrial Wastewater by Vetiver Grass. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (1 ed., vol. 26).
- Zhang, S.; Shi, Q.; Chou, T. M.; Christodoulatos, C.; Korfiatis, G.; Meng, X. (2020). Mechanistic study of Pb(II) removal by TiO
2 and effect of PO4 . Langmuir (46 ed., vol. 36, pp. 13918-13927). - Zhang, S.; Shi, Q.; Chou, T.; Christodoulatos, C.; Korfiatis, G.; Meng, X. (2020). Mechanistic Study of Pb(II) Removal by TiO2 and Effect of PO4. Langmuir (Volume 36.Issue 46 ed., pp. 13918-13927).
- Shi, Q.; Zhang, S.; Ge, J.; Wei, J.; Christodoulatos, C.; Korfiatis, G.; Meng, X. (2020). Lead immobilization by phosphate in the presence of iron oxides: Adsorption versus precipitation. Water research (vol. 179, pp. 115853).
- Shi, Q.; Zhang, S.; Korfiatis, G.; Christodoulatos, C.; Meng, X. (2020). Identifying the existence and molecular structure of the dissolved HCO
3 -Ca-As(V) complex in water. Science of the Total Environment (vol. 724). - Lin, Y.; Abraham, J.; RoyChowdhury, A.; Su, T.; Braida, W.; Christodoulatos, C. (2020). Ecotoxicological response of Scenedesmus obliquus to pure energetic compounds and metal ions found in wastewater streams from munitions manufacturing. Algal Research (vol. 48, pp. 101927). Elsevier BV.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2020.101927. - Lin, Y.; Abraham, J.; RoyChowdhury, A.; Su, T. L.; Braida, W.; Christodoulatos, C. (2020). Ecotoxicological response of Scenedesmus obliquus to pure energetic compounds and metal ions found in wastewater streams from munitions manufacturing. Algal Research (vol. 48).
- Zhang, S.; Shi, Q.; Korfiatis, G.; Christodoulatos, C.; Wang, H.; Meng, X. (2020). Chromate removal by electrospun PVA/PEI nanofibers: Adsorption, reduction, and effects of co-existing ions. Chemical Engineering Journal (vol. 387).
- Shi, Q.; Sterbinsky, G. E.; Zhang, S.; Christodoulatos, C.; Korfiatis, G.; Meng, X. (2020). Formation of Fe(iii)-As(v) complexes: effect on the solubility of ferric hydroxide precipitates and molecular structural identification. Environmental Science: Nano (5 ed., vol. 7, pp. 1388-1398).
- Xu, N.; Li, Z.; Huangfu, X.; Cheng, X.; Christodoulatos, C.; Qian, J.; Chen, M.; Chen, J.; Su, C.; Wang, D. (2020). Facilitated transport of nTiO
2 -kaolin aggregates by bacteria and phosphate in water-saturated quartz sand. Science of the Total Environment (vol. 713). - Zhang, S.; Shi, Q.; Christodoulatos, C.; Meng, X. (2019). Lead and cadmium adsorption by electrospun PVA/PAA nanofibers: Batch, spectroscopic, and modeling study. Chemosphere (vol. 233, pp. 405-413).
- Ye, Z.; Abraham, J.; Christodoulatos, C.; Prigiobbe, V. N. (2019). Mineral Carbonation for Carbon Utilization in Microalgae Culture. Energy & Fuels (9 ed., vol. 33, pp. 8843-8851). American Chemical Society (ACS).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b01232. - Lawal, A.; RoyChowdhury, A.; Abraham, J.; Abimbola, T.; Lin, Y.; Christodoulatos, C.; Koutsosoyros, A.; Braida, W. (2019). Assessing Oil Content of Microalgae Grown in Industrial Energetic-Laden Wastewater. Environmental Processes (https:/doi.org/10.1007/s40710-019-00396-5 ed.). Springer.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-019-00396-5. - Najib, N.; Christodoulatos, C. (2019). Removal of arsenic using functionalized cellulose nanofibrils from aqueous solutions. Journal of Hazardous Materials (pp. 256-266).
- Zhang, S.; Shi, Q.; Christodoulatos, C.; Korfiatis, G.; Meng, X. (2019). Adsorptive filtration of lead by electrospun PVA/PAA nanofiber membranes in a fixed-bed column. Chemical Engineering Journal (vol. 370, pp. 1262-1273).
www.elsevier.com/locate/cej. - Shi, Q.; Terracciano, A.; Zhao, Y.; Wei, C.; Christodoulatos, C.; Meng, X. (2019). Evaluation of metal oxides and activated carbon for lead removal: Kinetics, isotherms, column tests, and the role of co-existing ions. Science of the Total Environment (vol. 648, pp. 176-183).
- Terracciano, A.; Christodoulatos, C.; Koutsospyros, A.; Zheng, Z.; Su, T.; Smolinski, B.; Arienti, P.; Meng, X. (2018). Degradation of 3-nitro-1, 2, 4-trizole-5-one (NTO) in wastewater with UV/H2O2 oxidation. Chemical Engineering Journal (vol. 354, pp. 481--491). Elsevier.
- Terracciano, A.; Christodoulatos, C.; Koutsospyros, A.; Zheng, Z.; Su, T. L.; Smolinski, B.; Arienti, P.; Meng, X. (2018). Degradation of 3-nitro-1,2,4-trizole-5-one (NTO) in wastewater with UV/H
2 O2 oxidation. Chemical Engineering Journal (pp. 481-491). - Chen, M.; Xu, N.; Christodoulatos, C.; Wang, D. (2018). Synergistic effects of phosphorus and humic acid on the transport of anatase titanium dioxide nanoparticles in water-saturated porous media. Environmental Pollution (pp. 1368-1375).
- Abraham, J.; Lin, Y.; RoyChowdhury, A.; Christodoulatos, C.; Conway, M.; Smolinski, B.; Braida, W. (2018). Algae toxicological assessment and valorization of energetic-laden wastewater streams using Scenedesmus obliquus. Journal of Cleaner Production (vol. 202, pp. 838-845).
- Moon, D. H.; Wazne, M.; Koutsospyros, A.; Christodoulatos, C.; Gevgilili, H.; Malik, M.; Kalyon, D. (2009). Evaluation of the treatment of chromite ore processing residue by ferrous sulfate and asphalt. Journal of Hazardous Materials (1 ed., vol. 166, pp. 27-32).