Maria Isabel Alexander Rodriguez Email & Phone Number

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Drinking Water Group

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Worked under the guidance of Dr. Detlef Knappe on a project focusing on the kinetics of PFAS adsorption to GAC. The aim of the project was to quantify PFAS adsorption kinetics in single solute systems by conducting short-bed adsorber (SBA) tests. Results from SBA tests were interpreted with mass transfer models to determine how the intraparticle diffusion coefficient varies with GAC particle size, GAC properties, and PFAS properties. LC/MS/MS was used for sample analysis, and AdDesignS was used to determine the best-fitting kinetic parameters.

Worked under the guidance of Dr. Michelle Crimi on projects investigating the removal of recalcitrant organic contaminants from groundwater. Acquired experience with sample preparation and data analysis using liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Pre-treatment of PFAS Precursors by Heat-Activated Persulfate for Efficient in situ Degradation in an Innovative Sonolytic Reactor: honor's undergraduate research thesis project. Investigated the effects of pre-treating contaminated groundwater with heat activated persulfate on PFAS precursors prior to treatment in a sonolytic reactor. Used LC/MS/MS to analyze the changes in precursor transformation to determine if pre-treatment would result in enhanced PFAS degradation. Results demonstrated that heat activated persulfate resulted in a higher degradation efficiency and would reduce reactor operation costs associated with energy consumption.Validation of the Horizontal Reactive Media Treatment (HRX®) Well for in situ Groundwater Treatment: Summer 2017. The objective of the project was to determine whether the HRX® well could passively remove contaminants from groundwater by using a hydraulic conductivity gradient. Measured the flow and reaction of contaminant surrogates through a prototype of the Horizontal Reactive Media Treatment Well (HRX®) to validate mathematical models and simulations, and determine if the well had a higher hydraulic conductivity than the prototype aquifer. Results confirmed capture and treatment by the well.

Master Of Engineering - Meng, Environmental Engineering

Activities and Societies: NC SafeWater Vice-President

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering, 2021

Activities and Societies: Tau Chi Alpha Chapter member and secretary, Honors Steering Board Class of 2021 representative and secretary.

Associate Of Science - As, Engineering Science, 2018

Activities and Societies: Society of Women Engineers chapter vice-president, elected student member of the Board of Trustees 2017-2018.