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David A. Ladner

David A. LadnerProfessor
342 Computer Court
Anderson, SC 29625-6510
864.656.5572
E-mail: ladner@clemson.edu

Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009
M.S. Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2005
B.S. Environmental Engineering, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 2003

Classes | Publications | Honors | CV

Personal Homepage: https://cecas.clemson.edu/ladnergroup/

Faculty Overview

Dr. Ladner's research is geared toward making membrane-based water treatment processes more sustainable. One project involves redesigning reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membrane modules to decrease fouling problems. Another initiative is to develop polymeric membranes and coatings that can be quickly and cheaply regenerated to release foulants before starting a fresh filtration cycle. A third effort is attempting to redesign the RO desalination process to make it compatible with renewable energy (wind, solar, and tidal). Lastly, the group is interested in developing membranes and processes that can alleviate current bottlenecks in algal biofuel production. Like membranes themselves, this research program is at an interface; here we interface between science and engineering. We take fundamental knowledge from surface and colloid science, mass transfer, fluid mechanics, etc., and apply it to solve real-world sustainable engineering challenges.

Class Information

For current syllabi, please search the Clemson University Syllabus Repository.

EES 3030 Water Treatment Systems
EES 3050 Water and Wastewater Treatment Laboratory
EES 4750 Environmental Engineering Capstone Design
EES 4900 Creative Inquiry, LIEF Sustainability Living Learning Community
EES 8830 Special Topics: Membranes for Water Treatment

Selected Publications

Zhou, Z., Ladner, D.A., 2022. Computational modeling of discrete-object feed spacers attached directly onto reverse osmosis membranes for enhanced module packing capacity and improved hydrodynamics. Sep. Purif. Technol. 300, 121727. doi:10.1016/J.SEPPUR.2022.121727

Xie, A., Ladner, D.A., Popat, S.C., 2022. Electrocoagulation-electroflotation for primary treatment of animal rendering wastewater to enable recovery of fats. Chem. Eng. J. 431, 133910. doi:10.1016/J.CEJ.2021.133910

Tow, E.W., Ersan, M.S., Kum, S., Lee, T., Speth, T.F., Owen, C., Bellona, C., Nadagouda, M.N., Mikelonis, A.M., Westerhoff, P., Mysore, C., Frenkel, V.S., Desilva, V., Walker, W.S., Safulko, A.K., Ladner, D.A., 2021. Managing and treating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in membrane concentrates. AWWA Water Sci. 3, e1233. doi:10.1002/AWS2.1233

Carmo, J. do, Justino, N.M., Matias, M.S., Puerari, R.C., Matias, W.G., Ladner, D., Vicentini, D.S., Nagel Hassemer, M.E., 2020. Membrane adsorption with polyacrylonitrile prepared with superfine powder activated carbon, case study: separation process applied in water treatment containing diclofenac. Environ. Technol. (United Kingdom) 1–29. doi:10.1080/09593330.2020.1793006/SUPPL_FILE/TENT_A_1793006_SM5832.TIF

Abdulhamid, M.A., Park, S.H., Zhou, Z., Ladner, D.A., Szekely, G., 2021. Surface engineering of intrinsically microporous poly(ether-ether-ketone) membranes: From flat to honeycomb structures. J. Memb. Sci. 621, 118997. doi:10.1016/J.MEMSCI.2020.118997

Ladner, D.A., Krzmarzick, M.J., Peters, C.A., 2021. AEESP Spotlight: Early 2021. https://home.liebertpub.com/ees 38, 107–108. doi:10.1089/EES.2020.0520

Ling, B., Xie, P., Ladner, D., Battiato, I., 2021. Dynamic Modeling of Fouling in Reverse Osmosis Membranes. Membr. 2021, Vol. 11, Page 349 11, 349. doi:10.3390/MEMBRANES11050349

Xie, P., Cath, T.Y., Ladner, D.A., 2021. Mass Transport in Osmotically Driven Membrane Processes. Membranes (Basel). 11, 1–21. doi:10.3390/MEMBRANES11010029

Zhou, Z., Ling, B., Battiato, I., Husson, S.M., Ladner, D.A., 2021. Concentration polarization over reverse osmosis membranes with engineered surface features. J. Memb. Sci. 617, 118199. doi:10.1016/J.MEMSCI.2020.118199

Carmo, J. do, Justino, N.M., Matias, M.S., Puerari, R.C., Matias, W.G., Ladner, D., Vicentini, D.S., Hassemer, M.E.N., 2020. Membrane adsorption with polyacrylonitrile prepared with superfine powder-activated carbon, case study: separation process applied in water treatment containing diclofenac. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2020.1793006 1–29. doi:10.1080/09593330.2020.1793006 

Awards & Honors

Membrane Treatment Best Paper award from the Journal of the American Water Works Association. Awarded for the paper Lewis, D.O., Ladner, D.A., Karanfil, T. “Source water and microfiltration plant manganese control study.” Journal American Water Works Association, 105, E480-E495 (2013).
 
Membership Award from the South Carolina Section of the American Water Works Association, 2013.

Certificate of Merit for the platform presentation "Functionalized nanoparticles as removable membrane coatings" at the 242nd National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (with graduate student Megan Smith).

Fellow, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship Program, August 2006 to August 2009.

Best Student Paper Award, Membrane Technology Conference, Memphis, TN, April 2009.

Larson Aquatic Research Support (LARS) Scholarship, American Water Works Association (AWWA), June 2005.

Cramer Award, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, May 2003.

Paige Ashman Award, NMIMT Department of Environmental Engineering, May 2003.