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Dr. David Mazyck is an Associate Professor in Environmental Engineering Sciences at the University of Florida (UF). In addition, he is the Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Coordinator. Dr. Mazyck has a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Penn State University, has served on the Board of several technology and/or manufacturing companies, consulted for more than 20 companies, and is the Chief Technology Officer for Mazyck Technology Solutions.
Broadly, his research focuses on the tailoring of sorbents for the
purification of water and air. In other words, his research team
applies the fundamentals of adsorption, chemistry, photocatalysis,
and engineering to custom build particles that are more efficient
at their task to develop a treatment system that is more robust
and more efficient than commercially available solutions. Current
research efforts are divided equally amongst activated carbon,
silica, and photocatalytic particles; and in some cases all three
areas are combined. The primary objective is to tailor these
materials to solve particular problems of environmental or public
health concern (e.g., removal of mercury from coal-fired power
plant flue gas, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from paper mills
and potential drinking water, and taste and odor causing compounds
from drinking water). Present Students: Heather Byrne (Ph.D.) focuses on the application of silica-titania composites for trace level aqueous mercury removal. Silica-titania composites are photocatalytic high surface area materials that can increase pollution removal by synergistic adsorption and destruction. For inorganic contaminants, the photocatalytic reactions could alter metal valences for reduced toxicity or stronger adsorption capabilities. In the process, the photoreactivity of mercury species was realized and also studied. Emily Faulconer (Ph.D.) focuses on the synthesis and use of magnetic powdered activated carbon (MPAC) for mercury oxidation and adsorption in aqueous solution. This technology could pontentially be used in the chlor-alkali industry. Alec Gruss (Ph.D.) focuses on the use of silica-titania composites (STC) in combination with UV to remove mercury from coal-fired power plant flue gas. Mercury oxidation by various UV wavelengths at different relative humidities is quantified to be able to determine the extent of oxidation improvement with STC. Ana Maria Hagan (Ph.D.) brings experience with monitoring and modeling of water resources in the Southeastern United States to the research group from her work with NOAA's Southeast River Forecasting Agency in Atlanta, GA and the South Florida Water Management District in West Palm Beach, FL. Her doctoral program focuses on mercury contamination of natural waters in this geographic region from energy and chemical manufacturing industries. Her research on the estimated potential and development of advanced ultraviolet mercury removal technologies is based on the physiochemical processes of mercury chelation from real and synthetic wastewaters from chloralkali and coal fire power facilities. Matthew Joiner (M.S.) produces and optimizes activated carbon for the removal of particular dissolved solids from aqueous solutions. Currently we're working on decolorizing natural juices, such as apple juice. Miguel Morales focuses on photocatalytic coatings. Traditionally most photocatalytic reactors have suffered from mass transfer limitations. To overcome such limitations, Dr. Mazyck and colleagues at the University of Florida have developed a silica titania composite material. Currently this material is employed in a packed bed reactor. If scale up of such a reactor were to occur, the high pressure drop and UV lamp density would be limiting. To overcome these challenges my research focuses of the development of titania and silica-titania photocatalytic coats on chemical packing material. Chemical packing material with its high external surface area and void space would greatly reduce pressure drop and the density of UV lamps required. Miguel also has been researching water conservation in the non-residential sector. The commercial, institutional andindustrial sector contributes a great demand to water supplies. This sector, given its high variability of end uses within different customers, is difficult to target for water conservation. My research focuses on determining the water conservation potential within the sector and developing a model to assist utilities in formulating a water conservation plan. A major aspect of the project is foreseen to be cooling towers, where different treatments will be evaluated on effectiveness to reduce water use, cost, and reliability. Past Students: 
Danielle Londeree (ME) measures the pH of a pilot-scale flocculation basin we built for an experimental multidisciplinary design class. Danielle is currently an engineer with MWI, Inc. focusing on water purification and delivery for developing nations. 
Matt Tennant (Ph.D.) was my first student. Matt received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech and then focused his Ph.D. research on the activation of wood based carbon for taste and odor control. Matt was the VP of Research at Engineering Performance Solutions for 2 years and is currently an engineer with CH2MHill. 
Julee Shoenfeld (ME) was my second student and she focused her research on thermal reactivation of spent activated carbon. Specifically, Julee's research demonstrated that reactivated carbons can outperform virgin and conventionally reactivated carbons for taste and odor control. Julee has experience with Exxon, Engineering Performance Solutions, and is currently an engineer at CH2MHill. |
Research 
