Dissolved organic matter fractionation and pollutant interactions in soils irrigated with reclaimed wastewater 

PIs: Benny Chefetz, Myrna Simpson (University of Toronto) and Edward G. Gregorich (Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada)

Abstract 

Israel leads the world in recycling wastewater for agricultural use. It is expected that in 2009 reclaimed wastewater may account for >50% of total irrigation water. Introduction of relatively high levels of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and xenobiotics into the environment by this practice may have deleterious effects on the soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Furthermore, the long-term sequestration and transport of the xenobiotics, specifically pharmaceutical compounds (PC), is not well known. Therefore, the focus of this research is to obtain detailed information about the chemical structure and biological nature of the DOM and PCs in reclaimed wastewater, as well as how these compounds interact, individually and in combination, with soil constituents. We hypothesize that the fate of xenobiotics in soils irrigated with reclaimed wastewater is primarily affected by the reactivity and biodegradability of the DOM in soils. 

We will conduct fundamental research to characterize the adsorption and fractionation of DOM in soils to elucidate the effects of this fractionation on PC interactions. Recent research suggests that DOM-mineral interactions indirectly govern the fate of environmental contaminants in soil; however, this relationship is poorly understood. Therefore, we plan to apply advanced nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques to conduct molecular-level characterization of DOM, DOM-mineral interactions, and DOM-PC interactions. The NMR studies will be coupled with macroscopic studies with the overall goal of elucidating DOM fate and its role in the fate of PC in soils. The biodegradability of DOM and the influence of PCs on DOM biodegradation (and vise versa) will be evaluated using laboratory bioassays. The biological response to PCs will be quantified by measuring biogenic gas emissions and soil properties such as substrate utilization efficiency, nitrification potential, microbial biomass, and mineral C and N concentrations. 

This research will provide a fundamental understanding of DOM fate and its role in the sequestration of PCs and other organic pollutants in soil. The innovative nature of this research, which includes coupling chemical, physical and biological studies, will enable researchers to understand the short- and long-term ramifications of the increased use of irrigation with wastewater in agriculture. The proposed research presents an opportunity to recognize and mitigate a major potential threat to long-term sustainable agriculture. 

Interactions of engineered nanoparticles with dissolved organic matter (DOM) and organic contaminants in water 

PIs: Benny Chefetz and Baoshan Xing (University of Massachusetts, Amherst) 

Abstract 

Nanotechnology is one of the world's 21st century most promising new technologies. Engineered nanoparticles have a wide array of applications in industry, personal care and cosmetic products, and biomedical technology. Due to the extensive usage, large quantity of production and disposal, engineered nanoparticles are inevitably released into the environment. These nanoparticles are introduced to agricultural land via irrigation with reclaimed wastewater and/or biosolids applications. Therefore, besides the positive aspects of this new and rapidly growing technology, there are serious concerns over its adverse impacts, among them, health and environmental risks. 

We believe that the environmental behaviors of nanoparticles in aqueous systems must be investigated to enhance our understanding of the risk posed by them and to assess their fate in the agro-ecosystem environment. To the best of our knowledge, this will be one of the very first few studies on environmental behavior of nanoparticles in water system in relation to interaction with dissolved organic matter and organic pollutants. This type of study is of high importance since nanoparticles can be released to the environment via disposal and use of reclaimed municipal wastewater and solids where they can interact with dissolved organic matter and organic pollutants. 

During the course of this research, we will examine interactions between nanoparticles (ZnO, Ag, and carbon nanotubes) and dissolved organic matter and their influence on contaminant binding. The proposed work will provide fundamental information about the reactivity and interactions of nanoparticles in aqueous systems. In addition, this research is expected to provide valuable data on how nanoparticles affect the fate of organic pollutants because we will study sorption of these pollutants by nanoparticles and nanoparticles complexes with dissolved organic matter. The overall goal of this project is to gain a better understanding of the environmental behavior of engineered nanoparticles with dissolved organic matter and organic pollutants (including pharmaceuticals found in wastewater effluents) in aqueous systems. The scope of this study includes: characterizing various types of engineered nanoparticles and their interaction with dissolved organic matter; and binding studies of organic contaminants by nanoparticles, dissolved organic matter and nanoparticles-dissolved organic matter complexes. 

Clay-plant cuticular complexes as natural soil sorbents for organic pollutants 

PIs: Benny Chefetz and Tamara Polubesova (Hebrew University) 

Abstract 

Plant cuticular residues are important precursors of the soil humus. Cuticular derivatives reconstituted on clays can be considered as a model system of the soil humin, which is an efficient sorbent of organic contaminants. Therefore, to better understand the role of humin and plant cuticular matter as natural sorbents it is essential to study sorption of contaminants to cuticular matter-clay complexes. Limited number of studies of humin sorption properties still leaves open the question about mechanisms of its interactions with contaminants. Physical structure of cuticular matter-clay sorbents is not clarified, and there is scarce information about mechanisms of sorption of organic contaminants by cuticular matter reconstituted on clays. 

In this project we plan to reconstitute humin-like materials by loading plant cuticular residues, (cutin, cutan and waxes), on the montmorillonite surfaces (enriched with Na +, Ca2+ and Fe3+) and on soil clay fraction. This will enable us to elucidate the mechanisms of interactions of polar and non-polar xenobiotics by these clay-organic complexes and compare these mechanisms with the xenobiotics-humin interactions. We propose a comprehensive study of structure and properties of cuticular-clay systems and sorption of polar and non-polar organic compounds on these sorbents and humin. We plan to study environmentally relevant polar and non-polar organic pollutants having a wide range of physico-chemical properties. The different molecular structures and physico-chemical properties of selected sorbates will enable us to elucidate mechanisms of interactions of distinct pollutants with cuticular-clay complexes and humin. Surface properties of all cuticular materials, clay-cuticular sorbents and humin will be characterized quantitatively and qualitatively by using elemental analyzer, N2-BET technique, spectroscopic methods (FTIR, NMR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Spectroscopic and DSC measurements will be performed before and after the sorption, desorption and re-sorption experiments to evaluate changes in physical structure of sorbents. Combination of analytical and spectroscopy methods will provide us with extended information on the changes in properties of cuticular materials due to their binding to clays, and on the surface properties of cuticular-clay sorbents. Comprehensive study of sorption-desorption of contaminants and spectroscopy analyses of the surfaces will provide the elucidation of the mechanisms of sorption behavior of pollutants in cuticular-clay systems with distinct surface properties. The collected detailed information on sorption behavior of organic compounds will help us to better understand the role of humin in the sorption of pollutants and to gain a more penetrating insight into the overall fate of organic pollutants in natural soil and sedimentary environments. 

Reclaimed wastewater and sludge as source for pharmaceutical compounds: fate in soil and ground water 

PIs: Benny Chefetz and Yitzhak Hadar (Hebrew University), Brian Berkowitz and Ishai Dror (Weizmann Institute of Science) 

Abstract 

Pharmaceutical compounds (PCs) occur ubiquitously in reclaimed wastewater used for irrigation of crops in Israel, thus imposing a potential health risk if introduced to the food chain. PCs are also of potential ecotoxicological concern, because they are designed to induce specific biochemical effects and/or they are highly adsorbable, resulting in a tendency to accumulate in solid matter such as soil, sediment and plant tissues. Our major hypothesis is that the fate of PCs in soils and aquifers may be affected principally by the reactivity of the PC and their derivatives in the soil, capillary fringe and aquifer environment, including factors such as interaction with dissolved organic matter or soil/aquifer constituents, as well as sensitivity to microbial modifications. These interactions govern the overall adsorption-desorption processes, uptake and accumulation by plants, biodegradability and mobility of these compounds toward groundwater. 

The unique situation in Israel, involving intensive irrigation with treated wastewater since 1985 together with sludge application containing residues and active PCs, provides an excellent opportunity to study the long-term environmental behavior of these compounds in soils. Better understanding of PC transport to and in groundwater, especially across the capillary fringe, together with geochemical interactions, is needed to identify the main processes influencing the fate and occurrence of the active ingredients in the subsurface. So far, only a handful of studies have shown that various PCs may persist in groundwater. Finally, understanding and manipulation of biodegradation processes (mineralization and transformation) will have a major impact on reducing the negative effects of irrigation with treated wastewater contaminated with residual PCs. Due to this gap in information regarding microbial processes affecting the fate of PCs in soil and the intensive irrigation with treated wastewater, another objective of the current study is to elaborate on microbial processes related to biodegradation of PCs. 

The result of this effort will be a new, intra-disciplinary understanding of how PCs interact in soils and aquifers - chemically, physically and biologically - under application of reclaimed wastewater and sewage sludge. This is of importance to the emerging field of environment and health risk assessment: it will provide data associated with intensive irrigation of crops using treated wastewater, which might introduce PCs into the food chain. The proposed research presents an opportunity to deal with a potential threat - recognizing and planning for it - before it is too late. 

71018: Fundamentals of Soil Science

Instructor: Prof. Benny Chefetz

Course Level: undergraduate
Course Description: Soil as a dynamic system. Soil-plant relationship. Processes and states of compounds, elements and nutrients in the soil. Organic matter in soils. Soil carbonates. The soil as a colloidal system; the soil as a porous system. Soil-water relationship. Flow of water - laboratory and field. Soil aeration. Soil and environmental quality.  

71609: Environmental Chemistry

Instructor: Prof. Benny Chefetz

Course Level: undergraduate
Course Description: The course describes fundamental chemical processes in the environment (soil, water and air) including precipitation and dissolution, chelation, redox reactions, hydrolysis, and sorption. A major part of the course involves studying the chemical structures, important chemical reactions and fate of various pollutants such as PAHs, PCBs and pesticides.  

71106: Physical Methods of Chemical Analysis

Instructor: Prof. Benny Chefetz

Course Level: graduate
Course Description: The course covers the basic and principal aspects of advanced physical methods for chemical analyses. Covers the following techniques: atomic adsorption (AA) spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), inductively coupled plasma- mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), ultraviolet and visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS) and chromatography. Participants will learn by lectures and hands on practice in the laboratory.  

71185: Environmental Behavior of Organic Pollutants

Instructor: Prof. Benny Chefetz

Course Level: graduate
Course Description: Major processes that affect the behavior of organic pollutants in the environment. Phase transfers (volatilization, solubility, sorption) and chemical transformation such as hydrolysis, redox and photolysis. Student will collect polluted soil or sediment samples, extract and analyze them for the content of organic pollutants.  

For recent publications: Citations Profile at Google Scholar

Articles in refereed journals

• Chefetz, B., P.G. Hatcher, Y. Hadar and Y. Chen. 1996. Chemical and biological characterization of organic matter during composting of municipal solid waste. Journal of Environmental Quality 25:776-785.
• Chefetz, B., Z. Kerem, Y. Chen and Y. Hadar. 1998. Isolation and partial characterization of laccase from a thermophilic composted municipal solid waste. Soil Biology & Biochemistry30:1091-1098.
• Chefetz, B., P.G. Hatcher, Y. Hadar and Y. Chen. 1998. Characterization of dissolved organic matter extracted from composted municipal solid waste. Soil Science Society of America Journal 62:326-332.
• Chefetz, B., Y. Hadar and Y. Chen. 1998. Dissolved organic carbon fractions formed during composting of municipal solid waste: properties and significance. Acta Hydrochimica et Hydrobiologica 26:172-179.
• Chefetz, B., F. Adani, P. Genevini, F. Tambone, Y. Hadar and Y. Chen. 1998. Humic-Acid transformation during composting of municipal solid waste. Journal of Environmental Quality27:794-800.
• Chefetz, B., Y. Chen and Y. Hadar. 1998. Purification and characterization of laccase from Chaetomiumthermophilium and its role in humification. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 64:3175-3179.
• Helfrich, P., B. Chefetz, Y. Chen, Y. Hadar and H. Schnabl. 1998. A novel method for determining phytotoxicity in composts. Compost Science & Utilization 6:6-13.
• Amitai, G., R. Adani, G. SodMoriah, I. Rabinovitz, A. Vincze, H. Leader, B. Chefetz, L. Leibovitz Persky, D. Friesem and Y. Hadar. 1998. Oxidative biodegradation of phosphorothiolates by fungal laccase. FEBS Letters 438:195-200.
• Chefetz, B., J.D.H. van Heemst, Y. Chen, C.P. Romaine, J. Chorover, R. Rosario, M. Guo and P.G. Hatcher. 2000. Organic matter transformation during the weathering process of spent mushroom substrate. Journal of Environmental Quality 29:592-602.
• Chefetz, B., Y. Chen, E.D. Clapp and P.G. Hatcher. 2000. Characterization of organic matter in soils by thermochemolysis using tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH). Soil Science Society of America Journal 64:583-589.
• Chefetz, B., A.P. Deshmukh, P.G. Hatcher and E.A. Guthrie. 2000. Pyrene sorption by natural organic matter. Environmental Science & Technology 34:2925-2930.
• Chen, Y., B. Chefetz, R. Rosario, J.D.H. van Heemst, C.P. Romaine and P.G. Hatcher. 2000. Chemical nature and composition of compost during mushroom growth. Compost Science & Utilization 8:347-359.
• Deshmukh, A.P., B. Chefetz and P.G. Hatcher. 2001. Characterization of organic matter in pristine and contaminated coastal marine sediments using solid-state ¹³C NMR, pyrolytic and thermochemolytic methods: a case study in the San Diego harbor area. Chemosphere45:1007-1022.
• Chefetz, B., M.J, Salloum, A.P. Deshmukh and P.G. Hatcher. 2002. Structural components of humic acids as determined by chemical modifications and ¹³C NMR, pyrolysis- and thermochemolysis-GC/MS. Soil Science Society of America Journal 66:1159-1171.
• Salloum, M.J., B. Chefetz and P.G. Hatcher. 2002. Phenanthrene sorption by aliphatic-rich natural organic matter. Environmental Science & Technology 36:1953-1958.
• Chefetz, B., J. Tarchitzky, A.P. Deshmukh, P.G. Hatcher and Y. Chen. 2002. Structural characterization of humic substances in particle-size fraction of an agricultural soil. Soil Science Society of America Journal 66:129-141.
• Simpson, M.J., B. Chefetz and P.G. Hatcher. 2003. Phenanthrene sorption to structurally modified humic acids. Journal of Environmental Quality 32:1750-1758.
• Chefetz, B. 2003. Sorption of phenanthrene and atrazine by plant cuticular fractions. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22:2492-2498.
• Sachleben, J.R., B. Chefetz, A. Deshmukh, and P.G. Hatcher. 2004. Solid-state NMR characterization of pyrene-cuticular matter interactions. Environmental Science & Technology 38:4369-4376.
• Chefetz, B., Y.I. Bilkis and T. Polubesova. 2004. Sorption-desorption behavior of triazine and phenylurea herbicides in Kishon river sediments. Water Research 38:4383-4394.
• Simpson, M.J., B. Chefetz, A.P. Deshmukh, and P.G. Hatcher. 2005. Comparison of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon distribution and sedimentary organic matter structure in near-shore contaminated sediments from Pensacola Bay, Florida. Marine Environmental Research 59:139 –163.
• Ilani, T., E. Schulz and B. Chefetz. 2005. Interactions of organic compounds with wastewater dissolved organic matter: role of the hydrophobic fractions. Journal of Environmental Quality 34:552-562.
• Oren, A., and B. Chefetz. 2005. Sorption-desorption behavior of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in upstream and downstream river sediments. Chemosphere 61:19-29.
• Drori, Y., Z. Aizenshtat and B. Chefetz. 2005. Sorption-desorption behavior of atrazine in soils irrigated with reclaimed wastewater. Soil Science Society of America Journal 69:1703-1710.
• B. Chefetz, Sominski, L. M. Pinhas, T. Ginsburg, E. Tel-Or and A. Gedanken. 2005. New approach for removal of metallic ions from water: adsorption onto aquatic plants and microwave radiation for the fabrication of nanometals. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B109:15179-15181.
• Chen, B.L., E.J. Johnson, B. Chefetz, L. Zhu and B. Xing. 2005. Sorption of polar and nonpolar aromatic organic contaminants by plant cuticular materials: the role of polarity and accessibility. Environmental Science & Technology 39:6138-1641.
• Oren, A., Z. Aizenshtat and B. Chefetz. 2006. Persistent organic pollutants and sedimentary organic matter properties: a case study in the Kishon River, Israel.Environmental Pollution 141:265-274.
• C hefetz, B., T. Ilani, E. Schulz and J. Chorover. 2006. Wastewater dissolved organic matter: characteristics and sorptive capabilities. Water Science and Technology 53:51-57.

• Chefetz, B., K. Stimler, M. Shechter and. Y. Drori. 2006. Interactions of sodium azide with triazine herbicides: effect on sorption to soils. Chemosphere 65:352-357.
• Stimler, K., B. Xing and B. Chefetz. 2006. Transformation of plant cuticles in soil: effect on their sorptive capabilities. Soil Science Society of America Journal 70:1101-1109.
• Drori, Y., B. Lam, A. Simpson, Z. Aizenshtat and B. Chefetz. 2006. The role of lipids on sorption characteristics of freshwater- and wastewater-irrigated soils. Journal of Environmental Quality35:2154-2161.
• Shechter, M., B. Xing, F.-D. Kopinke and B. Chefetz. 2006. Competitive sorption-desorption behavior of triazine herbicides with plant cuticular fractions. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54:7761-7768.
• Johnson, E.J., O. Dorot, J. Liu, B. Chefetz and B. Xing. 2007. Spectroscopic characterization of aliphatic moieties in four plant cuticles. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis38:2461-2478.
• Chefetz, B. 2007. Decomposition and sorption characterization of plant cuticles in soil. Plant and Soil 298:21-30.
• Polubesova, T., M. Sherman-Nakache and B. Chefetz. 2007. Binding of pyrene to hydrophobic fractions of dissolved organic matter: effect of polyvalent metal complexation. Environmental Science & Technology 41:5389-5394.
• Shechter, M. and B. Chefetz. 2008. Insights into the sorption properties of cutin and cutan biopolymers. Environmental Science & Technology 42:1165-1171.
• Drori, Y., Z. Aizenshtat and B. Chefetz. 2008. Sorption of organic compounds to humin from soils irrigated with reclaimed wastewater. Geoderma 145:98-106.
• Polubesova, T., Y. Chen, R. Navon and B. Chefetz. 2008. Interactions of hydrophobic fractions of dissolved organic matter with Fe³⁺- and Cu²⁺-montmorillonite. Environmental Science & Technology42:4797-4803.
• Chefetz, B., T. Mualem and J. Ben-Ari. 2008. Sorption and mobility of pharmaceutical compounds in soil irrigated with reclaimed wastewater. Chemosphere 73:1335-1343.
• Marciano, A., B. Chefetz and A. Gedanken. 2008. Differential adsorption of silver nanoparticles to the inner and outer surfaces of the Agave Americana cuticle. Journal of Physical Chemistry C112:18082–18086.
• Chefetz, B. and B. Xing. 2009. The relative role of aliphatic and aromatic moieties as sorption domains for organic compounds: a review. Environmental Science & Technology 43:1680–1688.
• Polubesova, T., Y. Chen, C. Stefan, M. Selle, P. Werner and B. Chefetz. 2009. Sorption of polyaromatic compounds by organic matter-coated Ca²⁺- and Fe³⁺-montmorillonite. Geoderma154:36-41.
• Maoz, A., and B. Chefetz. 2010. Sorption of the pharmaceuticals carbamazepine and naproxen to dissolved organic matter: Role of structural fractions. Water Research. 44:981-989.
• Shechter, M., B. Xing and B. Chefetz. 2010. Cutin and cutan biopolymers: Their role as natural sorbents. Soil Science Society of America Journal 74:1139-1146.
• Polubesova, T., S. Eldad and B. Chefetz. 2010. Adsorption and oxidative transformation of phenolic acids by Fe(III)-montmorillonite. Environmental Science & Technology 44:4203-4209.
• Hauff, S., B. Chefetz, M., Shechter and W. Vetter. 2010. Determination of hydroxylated fatty acids from the biopolymer of tomato cutin and their fate during incubation in soil. Phytochemical Analysis21:582-589.
• Elmachliy, S., B. Chefetz, E. Tel-Or, L. Vidal, A. Canals, and A. Gedanken. 2011. Removal of silver and lead ions from waste waters using AzollaFiliculoides an aquatic plant, which adsorbs and reduces the ions into the corresponding metallic nanoparticles under microwave radiation in 5 minute. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 218:365-370.
• Shenker, M., D. Harush, J. Ben-Ari and B. Chefetz. 2011. Uptake of carbamazepine by cucumber plants – A case study related to irrigation with reclaimed wastewater. Chemosphere 82: 905-910
• Borisover, M., M. Sela and B. Chefetz. 2011. Enhancement effect of water associated with natural organic matter (NOM) on organic compound–NOM interactions: A case study with carbamazepine. Chemosphere 82:1454-1460.
• Chefetz, B., S. Eldad and T. Polubesova. 2011. Interactions of aromatic acids with montmorillonite: Ca²⁺- and Fe³⁺-saturated clays versus Fe³⁺-Ca²⁺-clay system. Geoderma 160:608-613.
• Anagu, I., J. Ingwersen, Y. Drori, B. Chefetz, and T. Streck. 2011. Modeling concentration-dependent sorption-desorption hysteresis of atrazine in a sandy loam soil. Journal of Environmental Quality 40:538–547.
• Navon, R., S. Hernandes-Ruiz, J. Chorover and B. Chefetz. 2011. Interactions of carbamazepine in soil: effects of dissolved organic matter. Journal of Environmental Quality 40:942-948.
• Wang, Z., J. Zhao, L. Song, H. Mashayekhi, B. Chefetz, and B. Xing. 2011. Adsorption and desorption of phenanthrene on carbon nanotubes in simulated gastrointestinal fluids.Environmental Science & Technology 45:6018–6024.
• Golan-Rozen, N., B. Chefetz, J. Ben-Ari, J. Geva, and Y. Hadar. 2011. Transformation of the recalcitrant pharmaceutical compound carbamazepine by Pleurotus ostreatus: Role of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and manganese peroxidase. Environmental Science & Technology45:6800–6805.
• Olshansky, Y., T. Polubesova, W. Vetter, and B. Chefetz. 2011. Sorption-desorption behavior of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in soils. Environmental Pollution 159:2375-2379.
• Hernandez Ruiza, S., L. Abrell, S. Wickareseramara, B. Chefetz, and J. Chorover. 2012. Quantifying PPCP interaction with dissolved organic matter in aqueous solution: Combined use of fluorescence quenching and tandem mass spectrometry. Water Research 46:943–954.
• Oren A. and B. Chefetz. 2012. Sorptive and desorptive fractionation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) by mineral soil matrices. Journal of Environmental Quality 41:526–533.
• Oren A. and B. Chefetz. 2012. Successive sorption-desorption cycles of dissolved organic matter in mineral soil matrices. Geoderma 189-190:108–115.
• Zhao, J., Z. Wang, H. Mashayekhi, P. Mayer, B. Chefetz and B. Xing. 2012. Pulmonary surfactant suppressed phenanthrene adsorption on carbon Nanotubes through solubilization and competition as examined by passive dosing technique. Environmental Science & Technology 46:5369–5377.
• Dvorkin, G., M. Manor, M. Sibony, B. Chefetz and B. Rubin. 2012. Effects of long-term irrigation with reclaimed wastewater on the efficacy and fate of trifloxysulfuron-sodium in the soil. Weed Research 52:441–448.
• Haham, H., A. Oren, and B. Chefetz. 2012. Insight into the role of dissolved organic matter in sorption of sulfapyridine by semiarid soils. Environmental Science & Technology 46:11870-11877.
• Hernandez Ruiz, S., S. Wickramasekara, L. Abrell, X. Gao, B. Chefetz and J. Chorover. 2013. Complexation of trace organic contaminants with fractionated dissolved organic matter: Implications for mass spectrometric quantification. Chemosphere 91:344-350.
• Borgman, O. and B. Chefetz. 2013. Combined effects of biosolids application and irrigation with reclaimed wastewater on transport of pharmaceutical compounds in arable soils. Water Research47:3431-3443.
• Lerman, I., Y. Chen, B. Xing, and B. Chefetz. 2013. Adsorption of carbamazepine by carbon nanotubes: effects of DOM introduction and competition with phenanthrene and bisphenol A.Environmental Pollution 182:169-176.
• Mitchell, P.J., A. Simpson, A. R. Soong, A. Oren, B. Chefetz, and M. J. Simpson. 2013. Solution-state NMR investigation of dissolved organic matter sorptive fractionation by mineral soils. Environmental Chemistry 10:333–340.
• Grossberger, A., Y. Hadar, T. Borch, and B. Chefetz. 2014. Biodegradability of pharmaceutical compounds in agricultural soils irrigated with treated wastewater. Environmental Pollution 185:168-177.
• Polubesova, T. and B. Chefetz. 2014. DOM-affected transformation of contaminants on mineral surfaces: A review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 44:223-254.
• Young, R.B., B. Chefetz, A. Liu Y. Desyaterik, and T. Borch. 2014. Direct photodegradation of lamotrigine (an antiepileptic) in simulated sunlight – pH influenced rates and products. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts 16:848-857.
• Goldstein, M., M. Shenker, and B. Chefetz. 2014. Insights into the uptake processes of wastewater-borne pharmaceuticals by vegetables. Environmental Science & Technology 48:5593–5600.
• Olshansky, Y. T. Polubesova, and B. Chefetz. 2014. Reconstitution of cutin monomers on smectite surfaces: Adsorption and esterification. Geoderma 232–234:406–413.
• Malchi, T., Y. Yehoshua, G. Tadmor, M. Shenker, and B. Chefetz. 2014. Irrigation of root vegetables with treated wastewater: Evaluating uptake of pharmaceuticals and the associated human health risks. Environmental Science & Technology 48: 9325?9333.
• Tenenbaum, I., B. Chefetz, and D. Avisar. 2014. Physicochemical behavior of tetracycline and 17?-ethinylestradiol with wastewater sludge-derived humic substances. Water Air Soil Pollution225:2155.
• Engel, M., and B. Chefetz. 2015. Adsorptive fractionation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) by carbon nanotubes. Environmental Pollution 197:287-294.

 

M.Sc. students

Tali Ilani (2002-2004) Interactions of Hydrophobic Organic Pollutants with Dissolved Organic Matter from Treated Wastewater.

Adi Oren (2002-2005) Sorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants to sediments of the Kishon River.

Orna Dorot (2001-2006) Sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to structural fractions of Olive leaf cuticle.

Keren Stimler (2003-2006) Transformations of cuticular materials in soil: effect on sorption behavior of hydrophobic organic compounds.

Michal Sherman (2004-2006) Binding of pyrene to sewage sludge derived dissolved organic matter: effect of metal complexation.

Yasmin Sagiv (2005-2007) Effects of irrigation with treated wastewater on the efficacy and fate of soil applied herbicides in cotton.

Tamar Mualem (2005-2010) Pharmaceuticals in treated wastewater: interactions with dissolved organic matter.

Shai Eldad (2006-2009) Sorption and Transformation of Aromatic Organic Acids by Montmorillonite Saturated with Fe³⁺ and Ca²⁺.

Adi Maoz (2006-2009) Binding of the pharmaceuticals naproxen and carbamazepine with sewage sludge derived dissolved organic matter.

Maggie Sela (2006-2012) Sorption interactions of organic pollutants with peat.

Rotem Navon (2007-2010) The effect of dissolved organic matter on the sorption and desorption interactions of carbamazepine in soil.

Daniela Harush (2007-2010) Uptake of carbamazepine by cucumber plants.

Yoni Danor (2008-2011) Fate of pharmaceutical compounds in soils.

Ran Yakir (2009-2013) Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products Uptake by Pepper and Chinese Cabbage Plants Irrigated with Wastewater.

Oshri Bergman (2009-2012) Mobility of Pharmaceutical Compounds in an Agricultural Soil: Effects of Biosolids Application and Solution Chemistry.

Ilya Lerman (2009-2013) DOM-nanoparticles interactions.

Roi Shapira (2010-2012) Nitrate Flux to groundwater under citrus orchards: Observations, Modeling and Simulating Different Nitrogen Application Rates.

Galit Tadmor (2010-2013) Adsorption and mobility of pharmaceutical compounds in loess soils irrigated with treated wastewater.

Amnon Grosberger (2010-2013) Biodegradability of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Agricultural Soils Irrigated with Treated Wastewater.

Hai Haham (2010-2012) Insight into the Role of Dissolved Organic Matter in Sorption of Sulfapyridine by Semi-Arid Soil.

Evelyn Colon de Mello (2011-2013) Uptake and Translocation of the pharmaceuticals carbamazepine, carboplatin and sulfapyridine by cucumber and tomato plants: Hydroponic Study.

Tomer Malchi (2011-2014) Irrigation of root vegetables with treated wastewater: Evaluating uptake and translocation of pharmaceuticals.

Anat Paz (2012-2015) Binding of carbamazepine to soils.

Yehuda Levy (2013-2015) Observations and modeling of nitrate fluxes to groundwater under diverse agricultural land-uses: From the fields to the pumping wells.

Tom Topaz (2013- ) Agrochemicals in coastal streams in Israel.

Orit Salton (2013- ) Biodegradation of Lamotrigine.

Marina Krapov (2014- ) Binding of organic pollutants by clay minerals.

Galit Tadmor (2014- ) Exposure of healthy volunteers to carbamazepine.

Evyatar Mordechay (2014- ) Uptake of emerging contaminants by tomatoes.

Ph.D. students

Yaron Drori (2002-2007) Sorption/desorption of organic pollutants: Effect of irrigation with treated wastewater.

Michal Shechter (2003-2010) - Interactions of organic compounds with plant cuticular materials.

Gal Dvorkin (2009- ) Effects of irrigation with reclaimed wastewater on the efficacy and fate of ALS inhibitors applied in cotton.

Naama Golan (2009- ) Biodegradation of carbamazepine by white-rot fungi.

Yaniv Olshansky (2010-2015) Clay-plant biopolymer complexes as natural sorbents of organic pollutants.

Myah Goldstein (2011- ) Uptake mechanism of emerging contaminants by plants.

Shani Avneri (2013- ) Binding of xenobiotics to DOM and soils.

Maya Angel (2012-) Binding of DOM to carbon nanotubes.

Post-Doctorant

Julius Ben-Ari (2007-2008) LC/MS/MS analyses of pharmaceuticals in crops.

Adi Oren (2010-2012) DOM adsorption to soils.

Yehoshua Maor (2011-) Coordinator, The Hebrew University Center of Excellence in Agriculture and Environmental Health.

Keren Schultz (2013-2014) Residues of organophosphate pesticides in crops.

Ganna Fedorova (2014-2015) Residues of carbamazepine in urine.