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  Since almost 50% of the energy used in homes is for heating and cooling, by moving your thermostat down 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer, you could save almost 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Robert Nerenberg

Assistant Professor

Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences

(574) 631-4098

Email: nerenberg.1@nd.edu

Website

B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1990

M.S., Civil Engineering, Wayne State University, 1992

Ph.D., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, 2003

Dr. Nerenberg’s research centers on environmental biotechnology, the application of techniques from microbiology and molecular biology to environmental engineering problems.  One of his research areas addresses new, energy-efficient or energy-yielding processes for wastewater treatment.  In particular, he studies hollow-fiber membranes as an energy-efficient means to grow contaminant-degrading biofilms.  His lab currently is studying a novel microbial fuel-cell based on hollow-fiber membranes, which produce electricity while treating wastewater.  Another project addresses a new, hollow-fiber-based process for concurrently removing ammonia and nitrate from wastewater, with greatly reduced energy inputs.  Dr. Nerenberg teaches courses in Environmental Biotechnology and Wastewater Treatment Design. 

Current Energy Related Research Grants

• National Science Foundation, “Hollow-Fiber Membrane Microbial Fuel Cells (HFM-MFCs) for Electricity Production from Wastewater;” PI, 7/1/07-6/30/08, $75,237.
• Center for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology, “Integrated Membrane Biofilm Reactor for Nitrogen Removal from Wastewater;” PI, 9/1/05-8/31/08, $258,290.