Research Overview

Membrane-based water treatment

Membrane-based water treatment research centers on a comprehensive understanding of solute transport phenomena within membrane systems, encompassing electrostatic interactions, diffusive and convective transport, hydrodynamic resistance, and fouling-layer–induced mass-transfer phenomena. By establishing the fundamental framework, the research aims to identify generalized principles that enhance membrane performances, mitigate fouling propensity, and improve long-term process stability. These scientific insights support the development of robust and sustainable membrane technologies for industrial wastewater reuse, zero-liquid-discharge operations, seawater desalination, and municipal drinking water treatment. Ultimately, the goal is to utilize core principles of solute transport and membrane interfacial phenomena to provide essential solutions for sustainable water-treatment systems in both environmental and industrial contexts.

Natural Organic matter (NOM) characterization

Research on natural organic matter (NOM) focuses on understanding the molecular and structural characteristics that define the complexity of organic matter in natural and engineered aquatic environments. This work aims to clarify key features such as molecular composition, functional groups, aromaticity, size distribution, acid and base behavior, and charge-related properties, along with the environmental processes that modify these characteristics. Through advanced methods for isolation, fractionation, and analysis, the research explores how the molecular structure of NOM evolves across different water matrices, including freshwater, seawater, wetland environments, and various wastewater sources. By establishing a detailed and integrated view of the molecular properties of NOM, the research provides a scientific foundation for interpreting its environmental behavior, understanding its role in aquatic chemistry, and informing sustainable approaches for water quality management and treatment across a wide range of environmental systems.

Application of UV-LED for advanced water treatment

Research on ultraviolet side emitting optical fibers focuses on delivering ultraviolet light through guided optical pathways to enable a wide spectrum of photochemical processes in aqueous environments. This approach compensates for the inherently low output of compact ultraviolet light emitting diodes by transporting ultraviolet radiation through optical fibers and releasing it uniformly along the fiber surface through embedded nanoparticles. The resulting spatially even ultraviolet emission allows efficient interaction with surrounding water, solutes, and catalytic materials, providing a platform that supports microbial inactivation as well as a broad array of ultraviolet driven reactions. These reactions include contaminant degradation, photocatalytic H2O2 production, and CO2 reduction processes, highlighting the extensive versatility of this system. The research explores how distributed ultraviolet delivery can enhance energy efficiency and reaction performance compared with conventional bulk irradiation methods. Overall, ultraviolet side emitting optical fibers offer a scalable and sustainable strategy for utilizing ultraviolet energy in advanced water treatment and emerging photochemical applications across diverse environmental systems.