New research lab provides environmental expertise

A new research laboratory at Mississippi State is offering environmental expertise to industry and government.

Housed in the Chemical Engineering Department, the Environmental Technology Research and Applications Laboratory draws on expertise from throughout the university.

"Our department has done environmental engineering work for many years, but the lab allows us to focus talent from chemical engineering and other campus departments," said director Mark Zappi. The laboratory also provides real-world experiences for students in the department, he added.

The unit works to help industries and government agencies come into compliance with environmental regulations.

In the five months since the lab was established, researchers have worked on projects that include developing an oxidation process for treating chlorinated phenols in water and using biological techniques to treat contaminated soils. They continue to work with a commercial laundry on environmental compliance and soon will initiate work to use ultrasound for enhancing oxidation processes.

The laboratory works closely with the Mississippi Technical Assistance Program (MISSTAP), also in the Chemical Engineering Department, which specializes in technology implementation and providing information to technology users.

For more information about the Environmental Technology Laboratory, telephone Zappi at 662-325-7203. He can be reached by electronic mail at Zappi@che.msstate.edu.