Michael J. Semmens

Professor Emeritus, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering

Contact

651-226-4418

semme001@umn.edu

Biographical Info

Education

B.Sc., Chemical Engineering, 1968, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, U.K.
M.S., Environmental Engineering, 1970, Harvard University
Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, 1973, University College, London, U.K.

Professional Background

Project Engineer, Hazen & Sawyer Engineers, New York, NY, 1968-69
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, 1973-77
Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 1982-83
Visiting Professor, School of Water Sciences, Cranfield University, Bedford, England1991-92

Current Activities

Senior Technical Advisor for OxyMem in Dublin, Ireland
Visiting Professor, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Padua, Italy
Traveling and enjoying life!

Research & Teaching

Research Interests

Chemical and physical processes for water, wastewater, and hazardous waste treatment
Membrane applications in water and waste water treatment
Membrane bioreactor design
The design of composite membranes and membrane modules for environmental applications
Passive barrier membranes for in-situ bioremediaton of chlorinated organic compounds
Biofilms grown on gas-permeable membranes

Note: Prof. Semmens is no longer accepting graduate students for advising.

Publications & Awards

Selected Publications

Ahmadi-Motlagh, A., Semmens, M.J. and Voller, V.V. Advective flow through membrane-aerated biofilms. Modeling results. Journal of Membrane Science, in press 2005.

Shanahan, J. and Semmens M.J. Influence of a nitrifying biofilm on local oxygen fluxes across a micro-porous flat sheet membrane. 2005. Journal of Membrane Science, 277(1) 65-74. DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2005.10.010.

Ahmed T., Semmens M.J., Voss, M.A. 2004. Oxygen transfer characteristics of hollow-fiber, composite membranes. Adv. Environ. Research, 8(3-4): 637-646.

Ben Aim, R.M., Semmens, M.J. 2003. Membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment and reuse: a success story. Water Science and Tech., 47(1): 1-5.

Clapp, L.W., M.J. Semmens, P.J. Novak, and R.M. Hozalski. 2004. Model for in-situ PCE dechlorination via membrane-delivered hydrogen. Journal of Environmental Engineering, ASCE, 130 (11): 1367-1381.

Cole, A., T. LaPara and M.J. Semmens. 2004. The stratification of activity and bacterial community structure in biofilms grown on membranes transferring oxygen. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 70(4): 1982-1989.

Fang, Y., L.W. Clapp, R.M. Hozalski, P.J. Novak, and M.J. Semmens. 2004. Membrane gas transfer under conditions of creeping flow: Modeling gas composition effects. Water Research, 38(10): 2489-2498.

Fang, Yuan, P.J. Novak, R.M. Hozalski, E.L. Cussler, and M.J. Semmens. 2004. Condensation studies in gas permeable membranes. J. Membrane Sci., 231(1-2): 47-55.

Shanahan, J. and M.J. Semmens. 2004. A multi-species model for membrane aerated biofilms. Env. Sci and Tech. 38(11): 3176-3183.

Ma, X., P.J. Novak, L.W. Clapp, M.J. Semmens, R.M. Hozalski. 2003. Evaluation of polyethylene hollow-fiber membranes for hydrogen delivery to support reductive dechlorination in a soil column. Water Research, 37: 2905-2918.

Semmens, M.J. , Dahm, K., Shanahan J., et al. 2003. COD and nitrogen removal by biofilms growing on gas permeable membranes. Water Research, 37(18): 4343-4350.