Member, National Academy of Engineering
Academic Affiliation
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering in the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering
Credentials
PhD, 1979, Stanford University
Bio
Bruce Rittmann, PhD, pursues research that is aimed at developing microbiological systems that capture renewable resources and also minimize environmental pollution. His work, which combines engineering with microbiology and chemistry, can be used to reclaim polluted water and generate energy from waste substances.
Dr. Rittmann was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2004, cited for pioneering the development of biofilm fundamentals and contributing to their widespread use in the cleanup of contaminated waters, soils and ecosystems.His research 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, formerly with Northwestern University, is also a recognized leader in the development of the Membrane Biofilm Reactor, an approach that uses bacteria to destroy pollutants in water. The Membrane Biofilm Reactor is especially effective for removing perchlorate from drinking water, and it is being launched commercially. The Colorado River, which provides much of Arizona's water supply, has a high level of perchlorate contamination, and perchlorate has also been found in groundwater in the Phoenix area. Perchlorate at very low concentrations affects the function of the thyroid gland, which disrupts the body's hormone levels.Rittmann also explores microbial fuel cells, which utilize organic materials in water to generate electricity directly. Traditional fuel cells use hydrogen gas as their fuel. While hydrogen has a clean byproduct (water), it is derived from petroleum fuels and is therefore not renewable. Using microorganisms as the catalyzing agents and organic matter in food and human wastes as the fuel would create a renewable energy source. The microbial fuel cell captures the energy resource in organic wastes while eliminating them as water pollutants.
In addition to being a member of the National Academy of Engineering, Dr. Rittmann has been a member of the E.P.A. Science Advisory Board, president of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, and vice-chair of the Water Science and Technology Board of the National Research Council. He is the author of more than 300 books and articles, serves as editor-in-chief of the international journal Biodegradation, and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Environmental Science & Technology. Dr. Rittmann's textbook - Environmental Biotechnology": Principles and Applications - is used by universities around the world to educate students about the ways in which microorganisms can be used to improve environmental quality.