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Bruce Rittmann

Bruce Rittmann

Regents Professor, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering

rittmann@asu.edu

480-727-0434

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Arizona State University
PO Box 875701
Tempe, AZ 85287-5701

Titles

  • Distinguished Global Futures Scientist, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory
  • Regents Professor, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
  • Director, Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Biodesign Institute

Biography

Bruce Rittmann's research is aimed at developing microbiological systems that capture renewable resources and also minimize environmental pollution. His work combines engineering with microbiology, biochemistry, geochemistry and microbial ecology to address fundamental and applied issues in the biological treatment of waters and wastewater, the bioremediation of contaminated aquifers and soils, and the recovery of energy from waste materials. Rittmann, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, is known for pioneering the development of biofilm fundamentals and contributing to their widespread use in the cleanup of contaminated waters, soils, and ecosystems. He is also a recognized leader in the development of the Membrane Biofilm Reactor, an approach that uses bacteria to destroy pollutants in water. Dr. Rittmann also explores microbial electrochemical cells, which utilize organic materials in wastewater to generate electrical power, hydrogen gas, or other chemical outputs.  Rittmann is a recipient of the Clarke Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Water Science and Technology, a winner of the Huber Research Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), a Distinguished Member of ASCE, and a winner of the Queneau Palladium Medal, the Walter Maskew Fair Prize, and the Perry L. McCarty/AEESP Founders Award. He teaches courses on Advanced Environmental Biotechnology and on Introduction to Environmental Engineering. Dr. Rittmann also a Fellow of the International Water Association, the Water Environment Federation, and the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences.

Education

  • PhD, Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, 1979
  • BS, Civil Engineering, Washington University, 1974
  • MS, Environmental Engineering, Washington University, 1974

Expertise

External Links

Journal Articles

2019

Hondula, D. M., J. L. Sabo, R. Quay, M. V. Chester, M. Georgescu, N. B. Grimm, S. L. Harlan, A. Middel, S. Porter, C. L. Redman, B. Rittmann, B. L. Ruddell and D. D. White. 2019. Cities of the Southwest are testbeds for urban resilience. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 17(2):79-80. DOI: 10.1002/fee.2005. (link )

2018

Kushwaha, S., A. K. Marcus and B. E. Rittmann. 2018. pH‐dependent speciation and hydrogen (H2) control U(VI) respiration by Desulfovibrio vulgaris. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 115(6):1465-1474. DOI: 10.1002/bit.26579. (link )

Van Ginkel, S. W., J. Miceli, B. Kim, Z. Yang, M. N. Young, A. Marcus and B. Rittmann. 2018. Determining the mechanism for low sludge yields in the cannibal solids reduction system. Water Environment Research 90(1):42-47. DOI: 10.2175/106143017X14839994523947. (link )

2017

Esra Ilhan, Z., J. K. DiBaise, N. G. Isern, D. W. Hoyt, A. K. Marcus, D. Kang, M. D. Crowell, B. E. Rittmann and R. Krajmalnik-Brown. 2017. Distinctive microbiomes and metabolites linked with weight loss after gastric bypass, but not gastric banding. The ISME Journal 11:2047-2058. (link )

Esra Ilhan, Z., A. K. Marcus, D. Kang, B. E. Rittmann and R. Krajmalnik-Brown. 2017. pH-mediated microbial and metabolic interactions in fecal enrichment cultures. mSphere 2(3):e00047-27. DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00047-17. (link )

2016

Mayer, B. K., L. A. Baker, T. H. Boyer, P. Dreschel, M. Gifford, M. A. Hanjra, P. Parameswaran, J. Stoltzfus, P. Westerhoff and B. E. Rittmann. 2016. Total value of phosphorus recovery. Environmental Science & Technology 50(13):6606-6620. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b01239. (link )

Ontiveros Valencia, A. V., C. R. Penton, R. Krajmalnik-Brown and B. E. Rittmann. 2016. Hydrogen-fed biofilm reactors reducing selenite and sulfate: community structure and location of elemental selenium within the biofilm. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 113(8):2736-1744. DOI: 10.1002/bit.25945. (link )

Zhou, C., Z. Wang, A. K. Marcus and B. E. Rittmann. 2016. Biofilm-enhanced continuous synthesis and stabilization of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs). Environmental Science: Nano 3:1396-1404. DOI: 10.1039/C6EN00308G. (link )

2015

Gifford, M., J. Liu, B. E. Rittmann, R. Vannela and P. Westerhoff. 2015. Phosphorus recovery from microbial biofuel residual using microwave peroxide digestion and anion exchange. Water Research 70:130-137. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.11.052. (link )

2014

Ekre, R., P. C. Johnson, B. E. Rittmann and R. Krajmalnik-Brown. 2014. Method for assessing source zone natural depletion at chlorinated aliphatic spill sites. Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation 34(2):60-70. DOI: 10.1111/gwmr.12049. (link )

Ontiveros Valencia, A. V., Y. Tang, R. Krajmalnik-Brown and B. E. Rittmann. 2014. Managing the interactions between sulfate- and perchlorate-reducing bacteria when using hydrogen-fed biofilms to treat a groundwater with a high perchlorate concentration. Water Research 55:215-224. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.02.020. (link )

Ontiveros Valencia, A., Y. Tang, H. Zhao, D. Friese, R. Overstreet, J. Smith, P. Evans, B. Rittmann and R. Krajmalnik-Brown. 2014. Pyrosequencing analysis yields comprehensive assessment of microbial communities in pilot-scale two-stage membrane biofilm reactors. Environmental Science & Technology 48(13):7511-7518. DOI: 10.1021/es5012466. (link )

2013

Almeida, P. G., A. K. Marcus, B. E. Rittmann and C. A. Chernicharo. 2013. Performance of plastic- and sponge-based trickling filters treating effluents from an UASB reactor. Water Science & Technology 67(5):1034-1042. DOI: 10.2166/wst.2013.658. (link )

Ontiveros Valencia, A. V., Z. Esra Ilhan, D. Kang, B. E. Rittmann and R. Krajmalnik-Brown. 2013. Phylogenetic analysis of nitrate- and sulfate-reducing bacteria in a hydrogen-fed biofilm. FEMS Microbology Ecology 85(1):158-167. DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12107. (link )

Ontiveros Valencia, A. V., Y. Tang, R. Krajmalnik-Brown and B. E. Rittmann. 2013. Perchlorate reduction from a highly contaminated groundwater in the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria in a hydrogen-fed biofilm. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 110(2):3139-3147. DOI: 10.1002/bit.24987. (link )

Tang, Y., R. Krajmalnik-Brown and B. E. Rittmann. 2013. Modeling trichloroethene reduction in a hydrogen-based biofilm. Water Science & Technology 68(5):1158-1163. DOI: 10.2166/wst.2013.362. (link )

Tang, Y., A. V. Ontiveros Valencia, L. Feng, C. Zhou, R. Krajmalnik-Brown and B. E. Rittmann. 2013. A biofilm model to understand the onset of sulfate reduction in denitrifying membrane biofilm reactors. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 110(3):763-772. DOI: 10.1002/bit.24755. (link )

Young, M. N., R. Krajmalnik-Brown, W. Liu, M. L. Doyle and B. E. Rittmann. 2013. The role of anaerobic sludge recycle in improving anaerobic digester performance. Bioresource Technology 128:731-737. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.11.079. (link )

Young, M. N., A. K. Marcus and B. E. Rittmann. 2013. A Combined Activated Sludge Anaerobic Digestion Model (CASADM) to understand the role of anaerobic sludge recycling in wastewater treatment plant performance. Bioresource Technology 136(May):196-204. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.02.090. (link )

Yuan, W., M. Wiehn, Y. Wang, H. W. Kim, B. E. Rittmann and D. R. Nielsen. 2013. Solid-phase extraction of long-chain fatty acids from aqueous solution. Separation and Purification Technology 106:1-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2012.12.025. (link )

Zhao, H., Z. Esra Ilhan, A. V. Ontiveros Valencia, Y. Tang, B. E. Rittmann and R. Krajmalnik-Brown. 2013. Effects of mutiple electron acceptors on microbial interactions in a hydrogen-based biofilm. Environmental Science & Technology 47(13):7396-7403. DOI: 10.1021/es401310j. (link )

Zhao, H., A. V. Ontiveros Valencia, Y. Tang, B. Kim, Z. Esra Ilhan, R. Krajmalnik-Brown and B. Rittmann. 2013. Using a two-stage hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) to achieve complete perchlorate reduction in the presence of nitrate and sulfate. Environmental Science & Technology 47(3):1565-1572. DOI: 10.1021/es303823n. (link )

2012

Biyela, P. T., H. Ryu, A. Brown, A. Alum, M. Abbaszadegan and B. E. Rittmann. 2012. Expanded Summary; Distribution systems as reservoirs of Naegleria fowleri and other amoebae. Journal of American Water Works Association 104(1):49-51. DOI: 10.5942/jawwa.2012.104.0007#sthash.VRlcz2vE.dpuf. (link )

Ontiveros Valencia, A. V., M. Ziv-El, H. Zhao, L. Feng, B. E. Rittmann and R. Krajmalnik-Brown. 2012. Interactions between nitrate-reducing and sulfate-reducing bacteria coexisting in a hydrogen-fed biofilm. Environmental Science and Technology 46(20):11289-11298. DOI: 10.1021/es302370t. (link )

Parameswaran, P., C. I. Torres, D. Kang, B. E. Rittmann and R. Krajmalnik-Brown. 2012. The role of homoacetogenic bacteria as efficient hydrogen scavengers in microbial electrochemical cells (MXCs). Water Science & Technology 65(1):1-6. DOI: 10.2166/wst.2011.519. (link )

Tang, Y., H. Zhao, A. K. Marcus, R. Krajmalnik-Brown and B. E. Rittmann. 2012. A steady-state biofilm model for simultaneous reduction of nitrate and perchlorate, Part 1: Model development and numerical solution. Environmental Science & Technology 46(3):1598-1607. DOI: 10.1021/es203129s. (link )

Tang, Y., H. Zhao, A. K. Marcus, R. Krajmalnik-Brown and B. E. Rittmann. 2012. A steady-state biofilm model for simultaneous reduction of nitrate and perchlorate, Part 2: Parameter optimization and results and discussion. Environmental Science & Technology 46(3):1608-1615. DOI: 10.1021/es203130r. (link )

Ziv-El, M., S. C. Popat, K. Cai, R. U. Halden, R. Krajmalnik-Brown and B. E. Rittmann. 2012. Managing methanogens and homoacetogens to promote reductive dechlorination of trichloroethene with direct delivery of H2 in a membrane biofilm reactor. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 109(9):2200-2210. DOI: 10.1002/bit.24487. (link )

Ziv-El, M., S. C. Popat, P. Parameswaran, D. Kang, A. Polasko, R. U. Halden, B. E. Rittmann and R. Krajmalnik-Brown. 2012. Using electron balances and molecular techniques to assess trichoroethene-induced shifts to a dechlorinating microbial community. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 109(9):2230-2239. DOI: 10.1002/bit.24504. (link )

2011

Kim, H. W., A. K. Marcus, J. H. Shin and B. E. Rittmann. 2011. Advanced control for photoautotrophic growth and CO2-utilization efficiency using a membrane carbonation photobioreachtor (MCPBR). Environmental Science & Technology 45(11):5032-5038. DOI: 10.1021/es104235v. (link )

Marcus, A. K., C. I. Torres and B. E. Rittmann. 2011. Analysis of a microbial electrochemical cell using the proton condition in biofilm (PCBIOFILM) model. Bioresource Technology 102(1):253-262. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.03.100. (link )

Parameswaran, P., C. I. Torres, H. Lee, B. E. Rittmann and R. Krajmalnik-Brown. 2011. Hydrogen consumption in microbial electrochemical systems (MXCs): The role of homo-acetogenic bacteria. Bioresources Technology 102(1):263-271. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.03.133. (link )

Sheng, J., H. W. Kim, J. P. Badalamenti, C. Zhou, S. Sridharakrishnan, R. Krajmalnik-Brown, B. E. Rittmann and R. Vannela. 2011. Effects of temperature shifts on growth rate and lipid characteristics of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 in a bench-top photobioreactor. Bioresource Technology 102(24):11218-11225. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.09.083. (link )

Zhao, H., S. Van Ginkel, Y. Tang, D. Kang, B. E. Rittmann and R. Krajmalnik-Brown. 2011. Interactions between perchlorate and nitrate reductions in the biofilm of a hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactor. Environmental Science & Technology 45(23):10155-10162. DOI: 10.1021/es202569b. (link )

2010

Marcus, A. K., C. I. Torres and B. E. Rittmann. 2010. Evaluating the impacts of migration in the biofilm anode using the model PCBIOFILM. Electrochmica Acta 55(23):6964-6972. DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2010.06.061. (link )

Parameswaran, P., H. Zhang, C. I. Torres, B. E. Rittmann and R. Krajmalnik-Brown. 2010. Microbial community structure in a biofilm anode fed with a fermentable substrate: The significance of hydrogen scavengers. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 105(1):69-78. DOI: 10.1002/bit.22508. (link )

Torres, C. I., A. K. Marcus, H. Lee, P. Parameswaran, R. Krajmalnik-Brown and B. E. Rittmann. 2010. A kinetic perspective on extracellular electron transfer by anode-respiring bacteria. FEMS Microbiology Reviews 34(1):3-17. DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2009.00191.x. (link )

Zhang, H., M. Ziv-El, B. E. Rittmann and R. Krajmalnik-Brown. 2010. Effect of dechlorination and sulfate reduction on the microbial community structure in denitrifying membrane-biofilm reactors. Environmental Science & Technology 44(13):5159-5164. DOI: 10.1021/es100695n. (link )

2009

Lee, H., R. Krajmalnik-Brown, H. Zhang and B. E. Rittmann. 2009. An electron-flow model can predict complex redox reactions in mixed-culture fermentative BioH2: Microbial ecology evidence. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 104(4):687-697. DOI: 10.1002/bit.22442. (link )

Parameswaran, P., C. I. Torres, H. Lee, R. Krajmalnik-Brown and B. E. Rittmann. 2009. Syntrophic interactions among anode respiring bacteria (ARB) and Non-ARB in a biofilm anode: electron balances. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 103(3):513-523. DOI: 10.1002/bit.22267. (link )

Torres, C. I., R. Krajmalnik-Brown, P. Parameswaran, A. K. Marcus, G. Wanger, Y. A. Gorby and B. E. Rittmann. 2009. Selecting anode-respiring bacteria based on anode potential: Phylogenetic, eletrochemical, and microscopic characterization. Environmental Science & Technology 43(24):9519-9524. DOI: 10.1021/es902165y. (link )

Zhang, H., J. E. Banaszak, P. Parameswaran, J. Alder, R. Krajmalnik-Brown and B. E. Rittmann. 2009. Focused-pulsed sludge pre-treatment increases the bacterial diversity and relative abundance of acetoclastic methanogens in a full-scale anaerobic digester. Water Research 43(18):4517-4526. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2009.07.034. (link )

Zhang, H., J. K. DiBaise, A. Zuccolo, D. Kudma, M. Braidotti, Y. Yu, P. Parameswaran, M. D. Crowell, B. E. Rittmann and R. Krajmalnik-Brown. 2009. Human gut microbiota in obesity and after gastric bypass. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 106(7):2365-2370. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0812600106. (link )

2008

Chung, J., R. Krajmalnik-Brown and B. E. Rittmann. 2008. Bioreduction of trichloroethene using a hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactor. Environmental Science & Technology 42(2):477-483. DOI: 10.1021/es702422d. (link )

DiBaise, J. K., H. Zhang, M. D. Crowell, R. Krajmalnik-Brown, G. A. Decker and B. E. Rittmann. 2008. Gut microbiota and its possible relationship with obesity. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 83(4):460-469. DOI: 10.4065/83.4.460. (link )

Lee, H., P. Parameswaran, A. K. Marcus, C. I. Torres and B. E. Rittmann. 2008. Evaluation of energy-conversion efficiencies in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) utilizing fermentable and non-fermentable substrates. Water Research 42(6-7):1501-1510. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2007.10.036. (link )

Rittmann, B. E., R. Krajmalnik-Brown and R. U. Halden. 2008. Opinion: Pre-genomic, genomic and post-genomic study of microbial communities involved in bioenergy. Nature Reviews Microbiology 6:604-612. DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro1939. (link )

Torres, C. I., A. K. Marcus, P. Parameswaran and B. E. Rittmann. 2008. Kinetic experiments for evaluating the Nernst-Monod model for anode-respiring bacteria (ARB) in a biofilm anode. Environmental Science & Technology 42(17):6593-6597. DOI: 10.1021/es800970w. (link )

Torres, C. I., A. K. Marcus and B. E. Rittmann. 2008. Proton transport inside the biofilm limits electrical current generation by anode‐respiring bacteria. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 100(5):872-881. DOI: 10.1002/bit.21821 . (link )

2007

Marcus, A. K., C. I. Torres and B. E. Rittmann. 2007. Conduction‐based modeling of the biofilm anode of a microbial fuel cell. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 98(6):1171-1182. DOI: 10.1002/bit.21533 . (link )

Torres, C. I., A. K. Marcus and B. E. Rittmann. 2007. Kinetics of consumption of fermentation products by anode-respiring bacteria. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 17(3):689-697. DOI: 10.1007/s00253-007-1198-z. (link )

Conference Papers

2012

Atsurni, S., J. M. Berman, G. Dantas, C. M. Febria, W. Liao, M. Talley, B. Tansel, K. M. Twigg, P. K. Westerhoff and F. You. 2012. IDR Team Summary 2: Identify what resources can be produced renewably or recovered by developing intense technologies that can be applied on a massive scale. In: Carpenter, S. R., A. V. Diez Roux, G. Hornberger, H. Mooney, M. G. Morgan, R. Morss, S. P. Murphy, S. Polasky, W. Reid, B. E. Rittmann and B. L. Turner II eds., Washington, DC. Interdisciplinary Research Team Summaries from 10-13 November 2011 Conference at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center,. (link )

Brouder, S. M., F. A. DeClerck, P. S. Kettlewell, A. M. Latta, E. F. Moran, S. C. Murray, T. L. Rabaey, P. K. Riggs, J. B. Ristaino, D. Rose and O. E. Sala. 2012. IDR Team Summary 5: Design production systems for ecosystem services that improve human outcomes related to food and nutrition. In: Carpenter, S. R., A. V. Diez Roux, G. Hornberger, H. Mooney, M. G. Morgan, R. Morss, S. P. Murphy, S. Polasky, W. Reid, B. E. Rittmann and B. L. Turner II eds., Washington, DC. Interdisciplinary Research Team Summaries from 10-13 November 2011 Conference at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center,. (link )

2012. Ecosystem Services: Charting a Path to Sustainability. In: Carpenter, S. R., A. V. Diez Roux, G. Hornberger, H. Mooney, M. G. Morgan, R. Morgan, S. P. Murphy, S. Polasky, W. Reid, B. E. Rittmann and B. L. Turner II eds., Ecosystem Services: Charting a Path to Sustainability: Interdisciplinary Research Team Summaries. Washington, DC. Interdisciplinary Research Team Summaries from 10-13 November 2011 Conference at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center,. (link )

Reports

2019

Rittmann, B. E., K. S. Lackner, J. D. Flory, R. Stirling, E. Eustance, Y. Lai, T. Shesh, A. B. Wright, J. Kmon, Z. L'Heureux and S. Badvipour. 2019. Atmospheric CO2 Capture and Membrane Delivery. Department of Energy. Technical Report DOE-ASU-0007093. (link )