Meet Our Team

We are a small group of talented individuals who are working on advancing research and development of novel water treatment technologies, hybrid systems to enable sustainable, and energy efficient utilization of impaired water sources to provide potable and non-potable water supplies. We look forward to working with you!

Leadership Team

Tzahi Cath

Director

My students and I conduct research in the area of water and wastewater treatment, and specifically we focus on the use of commercial and novel membrane processes. In the area of wastewater treatment and reuse we investigate the performance and enhancement of on-site wastewater treatment using novel hybrid membrane bioreactors and sequencing batch reactors. In this study we focus on the simultaneous optimization of energy consumption, chemical use, and nutrient and organic removal. We also explore the use of byproducts such as biosolids for bio-energy production. We also investigate novel membrane processes such as osmotically driven membrane processes (forward osmosis and pressure-retarded osmosis) for multi-barrier treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater for ultimate direct potable reuse. Specifically, our research focuses on investigation of solute and solvent mass transport in forward osmosis and the effects of these phenomena on future industrial implementation of the technology.

In the area of desalination, my student and I investigate novel thermally driven membrane processes such as membrane distillation and osmotic distillation. Specifically, we investigate the potential implementation of these processes in industrial settings where low grade heat and impaired water are readily available and high quality water is needed. We also investigate the utilization of the process for harvesting of minerals during desalination of brines. Also in the area of desalination we investigate novel thermally and chemically resistant nanofiltration membranes for various industrial applications. In particular, we study the occurrence, characteristics, and treatment of produced water from gas and oil exploration.

Dr. Cath is a professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department.

Email me: tcath@mines.edu

James Rosenblum

Managing Director

I have spent the past 10 years working in the municipal and industrial treatment and reuse space, between consulting and academia. My current research aims at improving water reuse practices and reuse of impaired waters through chemical characterization, toxicity assessment, and the development of treatment technologies associated with municipal reuse and oil and gas produced waters. This research focuses on characterization methods using both liquid and gas chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry, in-vitro bioassay, to various treatment methods (e.g.,advanced oxidation to biological treatment approaches). I also use big data approaches to address national drinking water quality.

Dr. Rosenblum is a Research Assistant Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department at Mines, and leads the day to day operations at the WE2ST Water Technology Hub.

Email me: jrosenblum@mines.edu

Chris Bellona

Associate Director

My teaching and research interests primarily revolve around technologies for water and wastewater treatment, water reuse, and remediation. Particularly, I strive to use fundamental concepts to understand the performance and behavior of water treatment systems. A large percentage of my research has been focused on potable wastewater reuse and the removal of organic contaminants from water and wastewater using advanced treatment processes. My current research focuses on various aspects of potable reuse, treatment of mining impacted water, and the removal of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) by physicochemical treatment processes.

Dr. Bellona is an Associate Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department at Mines.

Email me: cbellona@mines.edu

Technical Staff

Mike Veres

Mike Veres is a master technician that builds all of our pilot- and demonstration-scale water treatment systems from the ground up. Mike has over 30 years of experience with the construction and design of complex systems, and holds several patents in the algal biofuels space. Mike also co-manages the space, and leads our fabrication shop.

Email me: mveres@mines.edu

Tani Cath

Tani Cath is a National Instruments Certified LabVIEW Developer; he has been with Mines for the past eight years. Tani primarily focuses on the design, programming, and fabrication of advanced automated water treatment systems.