Dr. Suffet is Professor of Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) and a core member of the Environmental Science and Engineering Program housed in the EHS Department. He received his B.S. degree in chemistry from Brooklyn College (1961), his M.S. degree in chemistry from the University of Maryland (1964), and his Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Chemistry from Rutgers University (1968). Dr. Suffet joined UCLA in 1991 after 21 years experience at the Department of Chemistry and the Environmental Studies Institute at Drexel University where he was the P. W. Purdom Professor of Environmental Chemistry.

Dr. Suffet has published more than 200 research papers and co-edited eight research treatises. He is the 1983 recipient of the F. J. Zimmerman Environmental Science Award of the American Chemical Society and the 2001 A. P. Black Award for lifetime achievement in drinking water quality research from the American Water Works Association. Dr. Suffet teaches on topics related to water quality including the source, transport, fate and treatment of organic compounds in aquatic systems, and analytical and environmental chemistry.

Current Research

Professor Suffet's research emphasizes chemical analysis and elucidation of underlying mechanisms of how organic compounds that are hazardous or cause off-odors in the environment interact in natural aquatic or water treatment systems.

Current research interests include: (1) development of new analytical methods for trace organic compounds in aquatic systems, such as nitrosoamine, pharmaceuticals, and personnel care products; (2) the effect of natural organic matter on contaminants transport in surface water and sediments (e.g., PCB's and pesticides); (3) non-point source runoff of hazardous compounds, particularly polyaromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals; (4) treatment of drinking water for taste and odor compounds and EPA candidate contaminant compounds by advanced oxidation, activated carbon, and membranes; and (5) chemistry of wastewater reclamation related to non-potable and potable reuse, including the fouling of membranes by natural organic matter.

Selected Publications

Suffet, I. H.(Mel), V. Decottignies, E. Senante, A. Bruchet. 2008. “Assessment and Characterization of Odor Nuisance Emissions During the Composting of Wastewater Biosolids.” Water Environmental Federation. In Press.

Rosario-Ortiz, F. L., S. Snyder, D. Rexing and I. H. (Mel) Suffet. 2007. “Characterization of the Polarity of Natural Organic Matter by the Polarity Rapid Assessment Method (PRAM).” Environmental Science and Technology 41(14): 4895-4900.

Chen, W. R., C. M. Sharpless, K. G. Linden, I. H. (Mel) Suffet. 2006. “Treatment of Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) on the EPA Contaminant Candidate List Using Ozonation and O3/H2O2 Advanced Oxidation Process.” Environmental Science and Technology 40: 2734-2739.

Gabelich, C. J., J. C. Franklin, F. W. Gerringer, K. Ishida, and I.H. “Mel” Suffet. 2005. “Enhanced Oxidation of Polyamide Membranes Using Monochloramine and Ferrous Iron.” Journal of Membrane Science 25: 864-870.

Pedersen, J., M. Soliman, I.H. (Mel) Suffet. 2005. “Human Pharmaceuticals, Hormones and Personal Care Product Ingredients in Runoff from Agricultural Fields Irrigated with Treated Wastewater.” J. Agr. Food Chem. 53(5):1625 -1632.

Levine, B. B., K. Madireddi, V. Lazarova , M. K. Stenstrom and I. H. Suffet. 2000. “Treatment of Trace Organic Compounds by Ozone-Biological Activated Carbon for Wastewater Reuse: The Lake Arrowhead Pilot Plant.” Water Environmental Research 72(4): 388-396.

Suffet, I. H., D. Khiari and A. Bruchet. 1999. “The Drinking Water Taste and Odor Wheel For The Millennium: Beyond Geosmin and Methyl Isoborneol.” Water Science and Technology 40(6): 1-13.

Blum, D. J. W., I. H. Suffet and J. P. Duguet. 1994. “Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship Using Molecular Connectivity for Adsorption of Organic Chemicals on Activated Carbon.” Water Research 28: 687.

Charter, C. W. and I. H. Suffet. 1982. “Binding of DDT to Dissolved Humic Materials.” Environmental Science and Technology 16: 734.

Publications

Current Courses

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