Jiahe Zhang, a Ph.D. student in Environmental Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), delivered two oral presentations at the 2025 American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring Conference in San Diego on March 24-28 2025.
For the first oral presentation, Jiahe Zhang presented our results related to the mechanisms and performance of PFAS removal using commercial reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes under complex water chemistries. This work was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Qingquan Ma and Guangyu Zhu, under the supervision of Professor Wen Zhang under the funding support from the NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Membrane Science, Engineering and Technology. This talk systematically evaluated the effects of key operational factors—including pressure, temperature, pH, and water matrix components such as DOM and surfactants—on the rejection behaviors of short- and long-chain PFAS. By integrating surface and structural analyses such as SEM, AFM-IR, and KPFM, Jiahe provided new insights into how membrane surface properties and compaction affect PFAS transport and electrostatic exclusion. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of physicochemical interactions at the membrane interface and offers promising directions for optimizing membrane-based treatment of emerging contaminants like PFAS in wastewater systems.
The second oral presentation, titled “Ammonia Recovery from Wastewater Containing Nitrate and Ammonia Using an Integrated Electrochemical Membrane Flow Reactor,”
showcased an innovative approach to simultaneously converting nitrate pollutants into valuable ammonia and recovering existing ammonium from wastewater. His reactor integrates selective electrocatalysis with real-time ammonia separation to enhance nitrogen circularity in municipal and agricultural waste streams. A key innovation lies in the use of hydrophobic catalyst interfaces and advanced membrane configurations to finely regulate gas-liquid-solid interactions—overcoming traditional challenges in product desorption and gas bubble accumulation. With a U.S. patent application underway and a pilot-scale reactor developed, this work demonstrates the practical translation of electrochemical nitrogen removal technologies from laboratory research to real-world implementation, advancing the field of environmental sustainability. The study has been supported by the NSF/BSF project (award number: 2215387), New Jersey Water Resources Research Institute (award number: G21AP10595-01), and the 2024 NJIT’s Technology Innovation Translation and Acceleration (TITA) Seed Grant program.
In summary, attending the 2025 ACS Spring Meeting was both academically enriching and personally rewarding. Through two oral presentations, Jiahe Zhang showcased his latest research on PFAS removal and ammonia recovery, highlighting innovations in membrane science and electrochemical engineering. The conference offered valuable opportunities to exchange ideas with experts across disciplines, gain feedback, and explore future collaborations. Complemented by the vibrant setting of San Diego, this experience not only advanced Jiahe’s research visibility but also deepened our social networking with the broader scientific community. Beyond the academic sessions, exploring the vibrant city of San Diego was equally enjoyable. With its sunny skies, coastal breeze, and iconic palm-lined streets, the city provided a refreshing backdrop for reflection and connection. From scenic waterfront walks to bustling local eateries, the experience added a memorable and relaxing dimension to the conference trip.
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