Dr. Kevin G. Robinson

Biographical Sketch

Kevin Robinson joined the faculty in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The University of Tennessee in 1990. He received his B.S. (Cum Laude) in Environmental Science from Washington State University, his M.S. in Public Health (Environmental Chemistry) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Ph.D. in Civil (Environmental) Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Kevin currently serves as the secretary and newsletter editor for the Environmental Restoration (ER) specialist group within the International Association on Water Quality (IAWQ). He organized and chaired an ER symposium session at the most recent IAWQ biannual conference in Singapore. His research is directed toward environmental restoration/waste management issues with particular emphasis on removal and treatment of organic contaminants, heavy metals, and radionuclides (mixed-waste) from subsurface environments and waste streams. He has sought to develop working and research interactions with industries to evaluate and solve contamination problems at production facilities. In addition, he has successfully collaborated with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) researchers in exploring new waste treatment technologies. Kevin also maintains an active role in interdisciplinary research with the UTK Center for Environmental Biotechnology and the Waste Management Research and Education Institute. He has received awards from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Research Recognition-1994), the College of Engineering (Hoechst Celanese Teaching and Research-1996), the University of Tennessee (Faculty Research-1991 & 1997) and the American Chemical Society (Environmental Chemistry-1988).

Research Areas

Evaluation of Microbial Communities-A Novel Approach: Application of modern molecular techniques to evaluate microbial populations and processes during biological wastewater treatment. Elucidate the basic community structure in engineered systems using 16S rRNA based technologies. Develop probes for specific groups of microorganisms to quantify major populations. Establish degradative competence of primary organisms using dynamic response to changes in process operation and wastewater composition.

Vapor-Phase Biological Treatment: Evaluate biotechnological approaches to remove and degrade organics found in off-gases and other discharges to the atmosphere. Study cometabolism of TCE and toluene using two distinct fixed-film engineering approaches (linear and radial flow). Identify parameters which impact design and performance of each treatment technique. Determine the efficacy of on-line genetically engineered microorganisms (biosensors) as a feedback mechanism for process control.

Uranium Removal via Bioreductive Precipitation: Evaluate the scientific and engineering basis of microbially mediated metal reduction. Study the impact of chemical speciation on bioreductive precipitation of uranium in a mixed-waste matrix. Utilize a sequential batch reactor for selective uranium removal from wastewater.

Bioremediation of Organic Contaminants: Address how microorganisms degrade pollutants, what by-products may result, which contaminants and soil/water matrixes are appropriate, and how changes in the contaminated environment can contribute to the success or failure of a treatment regime. Accurately diagnose the capacity of an environment, or remediation process, to safely and effectively treat mixed environmental pollutants.

Role of Biosurfactants in PCB and HOC Degradation: Determine the effectiveness of biosurfactants in promoting bioavailability of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Hydrophobic Organic Compounds (HOCs) in soil-water systems. Evaluate enhanced apparent aqueous solubility and mobilization of soil-bound contaminants. Determine PCB and HOC biodegradation rates as a function of biosurfactant concentration.

Selected Publications

Ganesh, R., Robinson, K. G., Reed, G.D. and Sayler, G. S. (1997). "Reductive Precipitation of Uranium from Organic Complexes by Iron and Sulfate Reducing Bacteria." Applied and Environmental Microbiology (in press).

Robinson, K. G., Ganesh, R. and Reed, G.D. (1997). "Impact of Organic Ligands on Uranium Removal During Anaerobic Biological Treatment." Water Science and Technology (in press).

Cox, C. D., Woo, H. J. and Robinson, K. G. (1997). "Cometabolic Biodegradation of TCE in the Gas Phase." Water Science and Technology (in press).

Robinson, K. G., Ghosh, M. M. and Shi, Z. (1996). "Mineralization Enhancement of Non-Aqueous Phase and Soil-Bound PCB Using Biosurfactant." Water Science and Technology, 34: (7-8) 303-309.

Ganesh, R., Robinson, K. G. and Reed, G.D. (1996). "Influence of Dissolved Organic Compounds on the Enzymatic Removal of Uranium from Aqueous Solutions." Proceedings of the 69th Annual Water Environment Federal Conference, Dallas, TX (October), 3: 131-141.

Yeom, I.T., Ghosh, M.M., Cox, C.D. and Robinson, K.G. (1995). "Micellar Solubilization of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Coal Tar Contaminated Soils." Environmental Science & Technology, 29:2801-2809.

Ghosh, M.M., Yeom, I.T., Shi, Z., Cox, C.D. and Robinson, K.G. (1995). "Surfactant-Enhanced Bioremediation of PAH- and PCB-Contaminated Soils." In: Microbial Processes for Bioremediation, R.E. Hinchee, C.M. Vogel and F.J. Brockman (eds.), Battelle Press, Columbus, OH, pp. 15-24.

Robinson, K.G. and Novak, J.T. (1994). "Fate of 2,4,6-Trichloro-(14C)-Phenol Bound to Dissolved Humic Acid." Water Research, 28, (2), 445-452.

Robinson, K.G. (1994). "Microbial Bioavailability of Residual Organic Contaminants in Soils." In: Remediation of Hazardous Waste Contaminated Soils, D.L. Wise and D.J. Trantolo, eds. Marcel Dekker, New York, 599-630.

Hunt, W.P., Robinson, K.G. and Ghosh, M.M. (1993). "The Role of Biosurfactants in Biotic Degradation of Hydrophobic Organic Compounds." In: Hydrocarbon Bioremediation, R.E. Hinchee, B.C. Alleman, R.E. Haeppel and R.W. Miller (eds.), Lewis/CRC press, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 318-322.