In our group, we use environmental chemistry to explore ways to make water and soil cleaner and safer. Here are some of the main areas we focus on:
1) Emerging Contaminants: We study how emerging contaminants, like pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PPCPs), disinfection by-products (DBPs), PFAS, and toxic metals, occur, move, and change in the environment.
2) Environmental Analytical Techniques: To support our research, we use advanced analytical tools that help us accurately detect and measure a wide range of chemicals in environmental samples.
3) Physical-Chemical Treatment Technologies: We explore treatment processes that combine physical and chemical methods to remove pollutants from water, wastewater, and soil. Our goal is to develop practical solutions to deal with today's most challenging contaminants.
1. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “(toxic) forever chemicals”, is a class of anthropogenic chemicals. Our group investigates how PFAS behave in different environmental systems, using advanced analytical tools to accurately detect and quantify them. We also develop and test treatment strategies, including advanced oxidation and reduction processes, filtration, membrane technologies, thermal methods, and stabilization approaches to reduce PFAS contamination.
Related research articles:
Kim et. al., 2024, Occurrence, fate, and removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in small- and large-scale municipal wastewater treatment facilities in the United State. ACS Environ. Sci. Technol. Water 4 (12), 5428-5436. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.4c00541
Kim et al., 2022, Occurrence and fate of ultrashort-chain and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater treatment plants. ACS Environ. Sci. Technol. Water 2 (8), 1380–1390. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.2c00135
2. Advanced Water Treatment Technologies
Many emerging micropollutants are not effectively removed by conventional water and wastewater treatment processes. To address this, we focus on advanced oxidation and reduction processes (AOPs and ARPs) that use a variety of oxidants and reductants to produce highly reactive species capable of breaking down contaminants. Our research explores how these processes work, examining the reaction kinetics and underlying mechanisms, particularly under UV light and with different types of catalysts.
Related research articles:
Kim et al., 2025, Thermal destruction of per‐and polyfluoroalkyl substances in alkaline aprotic solvent. Chem. Eng. J. 505, 159296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.159296
Kim et al., 2023, Picolinic acid-mediated catalysis of Mn(II) for peracetic acid oxidation processes: Formation of high-valent Mn species. Environ. Sci. Technol. 57 (47), 18929-18939. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c00765
Kim et al., 2020, Cobalt/peracetic acid: Advanced oxidation of aromatic organic compounds by acetylperoxyl radical. Environ. Sci. Technol. 54 (8), 5268-5278. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c00356
Kim et al., 2019, Advanced oxidation process with peracetic acid and Fe(II) for contaminant degradation. Environ. Sci. Technol. 53 (22), 13312-13322. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b02991
3. Fate of Emerging Contaminants in Soil-Water Systems
Our group studies how emerging contaminants interact with soils, focusing on processes like sorption, redox transformations, and long-term persistence. We explore how these behaviors are influenced by factors such as pH, native soil minerals, organic matter, and the presence of ligands or co-contaminants. We also examine the potential for these contaminants to leach into groundwater and how they may transform at the soil–water interface.
Related research articles:
Kim et al., 2025, Effect of drying treatment on the leachability of metallic elements (Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) from amended mine soils during batch leaching experiments. Environ. Pollut. 374, 126246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126246
Kim et al., 2021, Sorption of anthracene and 9-anthroic acid onto biochar-amended soils as affected by field aging treatments. Chemosphere 22, 129670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129670
Kim and Hyun, 2018, Sorption of ionic and nonionic organic solutes onto giant Miscanthus-derived biochar from methanol-water mixtures. Sci. Total Environ. 615, 805-813. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.296
Kim and Hyun, 2016, Removal and co-transport of Zn, As (V), and Cd during leachate seepage through downgradient mine soils: A batch sorption and column study. Sci. Total Environ. 551, 571-578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.033
Kim and Hyun, 2015, Nonequilibrium leaching behavior of metallic elements (Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) from soils collected from long-term abandoned mine sites. Chemosphere, 134, 150-158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.04.018