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NJAES Faculty Expertise Database

Donna Fennell Donna Fennell
Associate Professor
Environmental Sciences
ENR 231
14 College Farm Road
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 848-932-5748
Fax: 732-932-8644
Email: fennell@envsci.rutgers.edu
Website: sci.rutgers.edu/faculty/fennell.shtml

Expertise Summary
  Dr. Fennell’s research focuses on the use of microbial processes for bioremediation and waste treatment. Her recent work has involved anaerobic bioremediation of groundwater aquifers contaminated with chlorinated solvents and sediments contaminated with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs). Dr. Fennell’s research approach combines environmental engineering with traditional microbiological culture and enrichment techniques, community structure analysis using molecular techniques and system prediction using biokinetic simulation models. This combined approach provides fundamental and predictive information for formulating site-specific engineering solutions for bioremediation and waste treatment systems.

International Expertise
Anaerobic biological processes
Environmental engineering
Groundwater remediation
Reductive halogenation
Germany

Research Projects
  • Microbial Processes in Bioenvironmental Engineering: Bioremediation, Bioaerosols, and Bioenergy
  • BIOREMEDIATION OF DIOXIN/FURAN CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS:FUNDAMENTAL STUDIES FOR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPME
  • Predicting Future Climate Change and its Impacts in New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic: A Collaborative Research Initiative

  • Selected Publications
    Anaerobic reductive dechlorination of chlorinated dioxins in estuarine sediments
      Journal: Appl. Microbiol. and Biotech.
    Authors: Vargas C, Fennel DE, Haggblom, MM
    Volume: 57    Pages: 786-790
    Date Published: 2001
    Assessment of indigenous reductive dechlorinating potential at a TCE-contaminated site using microcosms, polymerase chain reaction analysis, and site data
      Journal: Environmental Science and Technology
    Authors: Fennell, D.E.; Carroll, A.B.; Zinder, S.H.; & Gossett, J.M
    Volume: 35    Pages: 1830-1839
    Date Published: 2001
    Modeling the production of and competition for hydrogen in a dechlorinating cultur
      Journal: Environmental Science and Technology
    Authors: Fennel DE and Gossett JM
    Volume: 32    Pages: 2450-2460
    Date Published: 1998

     

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