Graduate Student - Ph.D.

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Environmental Sciences and Engineering

Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ)

Donna E. Fennell

Innovative research and development for environmental protection and sustainable energy system design

My interests include renewable biofuel processes and system energy optimization analysis. My current research project involves aspects of designing sustainable waste management systems that can effectively contribute renewable fuel resources to public renewable portfolios. Specifically, I am working with the Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex (BCRRC), which operates an active bioreactor landfill. I am analyzing operational data, identifying lacking data sets, and carrying out fundamental research in order to optimize the bioreactor landfill operation.

Specific focus has been placed on optimizing natural methane generation for energy recovery as well the fate of nitrogen species byproducts produced during organic decomposition. Laboratory scale reactor studies are being used to characterize possible trade-offs at the microbial and chemical level that affect desired reaction products.These considered aspects will have profound implications for designing highly controlled and optimized reaction schemes.