Adam Smith

Research Summary

Dr. Smith's research evaluates new and emerging environmental biotechnologies to improve the sustainability of water systems. Our water infrastructure is at an important interface between the built and natural environment. Historically, environmental engineers have focused on protecting local water quality by reducing pollutant loading via wastewater treatment. We now strive to encompass broader (e.g., regional and global) environmental protection by developing systems that minimize energy demand and other inputs while recovering resources such as energy, nutrients, and water from waste streams. Dr. Smith's research focuses on anaerobic biotechnologies such as anaerobic membrane bioreactors that are capable of matching treatment performance of existing aerobic systems while generating methane-rich biogas, a renewable energy resource. These systems also generate an effluent rich in nutrients creating opportunities for non-potable agricultural reuse. This carries increasing relevance as many regions including Southern California are faced with intense water shortage. Dr. Smith's research incorporates process engineering, microbial ecology through the use of advanced molecular biology tools, and sustainability assessment (e.g., life cycle assessment). He is especially interested in microbial syntrophy in anaerobic communities, the impacts of low temperatures on microorganisms, and differences between biofilm and planktonic communities in treatment systems. The overarching goal of his research is to develop a self-sustaining water management system that generates reuse water with minimal environmental footprint.