Abstract
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An analysis by Blaney et al. (2016) presents a survey of enrollments, degrees, and faculty in environmental engineering disciplines. From 2005 to 2013, the number of BS, MS, and PhD degrees rose by 90%, 27%, and 39%, respectively, outpacing comparable fields. Representation of women is much higher than in related engineering disciplines; the percentage of environmental engineering degrees awarded to women was 46% for 2013.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are environmental pollutants of emerging concern. A review article by Merino et al. (2016) documents methods for removal of PFASs from water and to inform cost-effective remediation and treatment strategies. Several sorption strategies are effective, but chemical destruction presents challenges especially under field conditions.
In an EES special issue overview article, Clarens and Peters (2016) make the case that environmental engineers must be ready to play a leadership role in the development of climate change mitigation strategies at the carbon–water nexus (CWN). This EES special issue, on “The science and innovation of emerging subsurface energy technologies,” provides one example of a CWN domain within which environmental engineers are making important contributions.
A study by Bi et al. (2016), published in the October special issue, was motivated by the need to effectively separate radium (Ra) from shale gas production wastewater. Ion exchange materials are potentially well suited for the concentrations of Ra in a low volume solid waste form. This study demonstrated that a cation exchange resin is effective in separating Ra from high-salinity brines. The unconventional treatment strategy of metal chelation coupled with ion exchange resins may reduce generation and disposal costs of low-level radioactive solid waste.
An EES special issue edited by Ergas et al. (2016) focuses on biological waste-to-energy technologies that can help meet global energy needs while stabilizing domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastes. Anaerobic digestion, which is increasingly applied for treatment of mainstream wastewaters, was the focus of several articles. The versatility of anaerobic digestion highlights the diversity of approaches to recover underutilized energetic resources.
Dilute wastewaters present unique challenges in anaerobic treatment. A study by Sills et al. (2016), published in the November special issue, coupled wastewater treatment process modeling with life cycle assessment to examine the trade-offs among climate change, resource depletion, ecosystem quality, and human health. Oxidation or capture of dissolved methane was shown to make anaerobic baffled reactors cost-effective and beneficial to the environment.