Huichun (Judy) Zhang

Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Examines fate and transformation of environmental contaminants in natural and engineered environments and develops advanced water/wastewater treatment technologies
Office: 239 Bingham Phone Number: (216) 368-0689 Email: huichun.zhang@case.edu

Education

Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004
M.S., Environmental Science, Nanjing University, 1997
B.S., Environmental Chemistry, Nanjing University, 1994

Awards and Recognitions

2023, CAPEES Award for Environmental Application of AI/ML, CAPEES
2023, ACS Division of Environmental Chemistry C. Ellen Gonter Award, American Chemical Society
2022, Best Presentation Award, International Congress on Separation and Purification Technology
2022, 2021 Best ES&T Paper Award, Environmental Science & Technology
2021, Outstanding Editor of 2021, Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering (FESE)
2019, Nanova/CAPEES Frontier Research Award, CAPEES

Research Interests

1) Predictive modeling based on AI and machine learning;
2) Reduction-oxidation processes in complex mixtures;
3) Transformation and fate of emerging contaminants in natural and engineered environments;
4) Interfacial reaction of organic contaminants with natural minerals in complex mixtures;
5) Polymeric sorbents for the removal of organic contaminants: sorption, ion exchange, novel sorbents, catalytic adsorption and reduction for in-situ regeneration;
6) Predictive modeling for sorption of single and multi-solutes by various sorbents;
7) Novel Fe/Mn based redox active inorganic materials for contaminant removal;
8) Capture of dissolved P from agricultural runoff

Teaching Interests

Environmental Organic Chemistry;
Water Chemistry;
Intro to Environmental Engineering

Professional Leadership and Service

Jan. 1, 2002 - PRESENT, member and Student award committee American Chemical Society
Jan. 1, 2016 - PRESENT, member and Board of Directors Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors
Jul. 1, 2023 - PRESENT, Associate Editor ACS ES&T Water
Jan. 1, 2010 - PRESENT, member and 2017 President Chinese-American Professors in Environmental Engineering and Science (CAPEES)

Publications

Zou, J., Huang, J., Zhang, H., & Yue, D. (2021). Evolution of humic substances in polymerization of polyphenol and amino acid based on non-destructive characterization. FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING, 15 (1).
Zhou, X., Wang, F., Huang, K., Zhang, H., Yuan, Y., & Han, A. (2021). System Dynamics-Multiple Objective Optimization Model for Water Resource Management: A Case Study in Jiaxing City, China. WATER, 13 (5).
Yang, H., Wang, F., Yuan, Y., Huang, K., Zhang, H., & Fu, Z. (2021). An improved weighted index for the assessment of heavy metal pollution in soils in Zhejiang, China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, 192
Gao, Y., Zhong, S., Torralba-Sanchez, T., Tratnyek, P., Weber, E., Chen, Y., & Zhang, H. (2021). Quantitative structure activity relationships (QSARs) and machine learning models for abiotic reduction of organic compounds by an aqueous Fe(II) complex. WATER RESEARCH, 192
Zhong, S., Hu, J., Yu, B., & Zhang, H. (2021). Molecular image-convolutional neural network (CNN) assisted QSAR models for predicting contaminant reactivity toward OH radicals: Transfer learning, data augmentation and model interpretation. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, 408
Negahban, S., Mokarram, M., Pourghasemi, H., & Zhang, H. (2021). Ecological risk potential assessment of heavy metal contaminated soils in Ophiolitic formations. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, 192
Zhong, S., Zhang, K., Wang, D., & Zhang, H. (2021). Shedding light on "Black Box" machine learning models for predicting the reactivity of HO center dot radicals toward organic compounds. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, 405
Zhong, S., Hu, J., Fan, X., Yu, B., & Zhang, H. (2020). A deep neural network combined with molecular fingerprints (DNN-MF) to develop predictive models for hydroxyl radical rate constants of water contaminants. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 383
Huang, K., & Zhang, H. (2020). Galvanic oxidation processes (GOPs): An effective direct electron transfer approach for organic contaminant oxidation. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, 743
Mokarram, M., Pourghasemi, H., & Zhang, H. (2020). Predicting non-carcinogenic hazard quotients of heavy metals in pepper (Capsicum annum L.) utilizing electromagnetic waves. FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING, 14 (6).
Mokarram, M., Amin, H., & Zhang, H. (2020). Assessment of Non-Carcinogenic Hazard Quotients of Some Heavy Metals in the Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) Using Electromagnetic Waves. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, In review
Zou, J., Huang, J., Yue, D., & Zhang, H. (2020). Effect of Mn(IV) dioxide on the evolution of humic substances in polymerization of polyphenol and amino acid. Frontiers of Environmental Science and Engineering, In review
Zhong, S., & Zhang, H. (2020). Mn(III)-Ligand Complexes as a Catalyst in Ligand-Assisted Oxidation of Substituted Phenols by Permanganate in Aqueous Solution. J. Haz. Mat., 384 , 121401.
Fortunato, J., Pena, J., Zhang, H., Huang, J., Zhu, M., Bruce E. Logan,, M., & Gorski, C. (2020). Progress towards rationally selecting manganese oxide electrodes for harnessing salinity gradient energy. Environ. Sci. Technol., Revised version submitted
Zou, J., Huang, J., Yue, D., & Zhang, H. (2020). Roles of oxygen and Mn (IV) oxide in abiotic formation of humic substances by oxidative polymerization of polyphenol and amino acid. Chem. Eng. J., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.124734
Zhang, K., & Zhang, H. (2020). Coupling a Feedforward Network (FN) Model to Real Adsorbed Solution Theory (RAST) to Improve Prediction of Bisolute Adsorption on Resins. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 54 (23), 15385-15394.
Huang, K., & Zhang, H. (2020). Highly Efficient Bromide Removal from Shale Gas Produced Water by Unactivated Peroxymonosulfate for Controlling Disinfection Byproduct Formation in Impacted Water Supplies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 54 (8), 5186-5196.
Li, J., Zhao, L., Huang, C., Zhang, H., Zhang, R., Elahi, S., & Sun, P. (2020). Significant Effect of Evaporation Process on the Reaction of Sulfamethoxazole with Manganese Oxide. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 54 (8), 4856-4864.
Zhong, S., & Zhang, H. (2020). Chemical Knowledge Learned by Machine Learning-based predictive models for OH• Radical towards Organic Compounds. PNAS, In review
Zhang, Y., Lu, G., Zhang, H., & Li, L. (2020). Enhancement of nitrogen and phosphorus removal, sludge reduction and microbial community structure in a pilot-scale anaerobic/ anoxic/oxic process coupled with composite ferrate solution disintegration. Environ. Res., In review
Zhang, K., Zhong, S., & Zhang, H. (2020). Predicting aqueous adsorption of organic compounds on biochars, carbon nanotubes, granular activated carbons, and resins by machine learning. Environ. Sci. Technol., In review
Huang, J., & Zhang, H. (2020). Redox reactions of iron and manganese oxides in complex systems. Frontiers of Environmental Science and Engineering, Revised version submitted
Zhang, Y., Lu, G., Zhang, H., Lin, F., & Li, L. (2020). Enhancement of nitrogen and phosphorus removal, sludge reduction and microbial community structure in an anaerobic/anoxic/oxic process coupled with composite ferrate solution disintegration. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, 190
Zhang, K., Zhong, S., & Zhang, H. (2020). Predicting Aqueous Adsorption of Organic Compounds onto Biochars, Carbon Nanotubes, Granular Activated Carbons, and Resins with Machine Learning. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 54 (11), 7008-7018.
Jiang, Z., Hu, J., Zhang, X., Zhao, Y., Fan, X., Zhong, S., Zhang, H., & Yu, B. (2020). A Generalized Predictive Model for TiO2–Catalyzed Photo-degradation Rate Constants of Water Contaminants through Artificial Neural Network. Environ. Res., In revision
Fortunato, J., Pena, J., Benkaddour, S., Zhang, H., Huang, J., Zhu, M., Logan, B., & Gorski, C. (2020). Surveying Manganese Oxides as Electrode Materials for Harnessing Salinity Gradient Energy. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 54 (9), 5746-5754.
Li, J., Zhao, L., Huang, C., Zhang, H., Zhang, R., Elahi, S., & Sun, P. (2020). Differences in antibiotic degradation by soil minerals under suspension systems and evaporation processes. Environ. Sci. Technol., Revised version submitted
Huang, K., & Zhang, H. (2020). Highly efficient bromide removal from shale gas produced water by un-activated peroxymonosulfate for disinfection byproduct formation control in impacted water supplies. Environ. Sci. Technol., Revised version submitted
Zhang, K., Zhong, S., & Zhang, H. (2020). Predicting aqueous adsorption of organic compounds onto biochars, carbon nanotubes, granular activated carbons, and resins with machine learning. Environ. Sci. Technol., In revision
Zou, J., Huang, J., Yuea, D., & Zhang, H. (2020). Roles of oxygen and Mn (IV) oxide in abiotic formation of humic substances by oxidative polymerization of polyphenol and amino acid. Chem. Eng. J., In review
Zhong, S., Hu, J., Fan, X., Yu, B., & Zhang, H. (2020). A deep neural network combined with molecular fingerprints (DNN-MF) to develop predictive models for hydroxyl radical rate constants of water contaminants. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, 383
Huang, J., Dai, Y., Singewald, K., Liu, C., Saxena, S., & Zhang, H. (2019). Effects of MnO2 of different structures on activation of peroxymonosulfate for bisphenol A degradation under acidic conditions. Chemical Engineering Journal, 370 , 906-915.
Huang, J., & Zhang, H. (2019). Oxidant or Catalyst for Oxidation? The Role of Manganese Oxides in the Activation of Peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Frontiers of Environmental Science and Engineering, 13 (5), 65.
Dai, Y., Huang, J., Zhang, H., & Liu, C. (2019). Highly sensitive electrochemical analysis of tunnel structured MnO2 nanoparticle-based sensors on the oxidation of nitrite. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 281 , 746-750.
Huang, J., Chen, Y., & Zhang, H. (2019). Fe(II) involved abiotic reductive transformation of environmental contaminants: A review. Environ. Sci. Technol., In Prep.
Huang, J., Chen, Y., & Zhang, H. (2019). Ternary mixtures of metal ions, ligands, and metal oxides: A review. Environ. Sci. Technol., In Prep.
Huang, J., Chen, Y., Rosso, K., Waite, T., & Zhang, H. (2019). Fe(II) involved abiotic reductive transformation of environmental contaminants: A review. Chem. Soc. Rev., In Prep.
Zhong, S., & Zhang, H. (2019). New insight into the reactivity of Mn(III) in bisulfite/permanganate for organic compounds oxidation: The catalytic role of Bisulfite and Oxygen. Wat. Res., 148 , 198-207.
Huang, J., Dai, Z., Liu, C., & Zhang, H. (2019). Effects of MnO2 of different structures on activation of peroxymonosulfate for bisphenol A degradation under acidic conditions. Chem. Eng. J., 370 , 906-915.
Dai, Y., Huang, J., Zhang, H., & Liu, C. (2019). Metal Oxides Nanoparticles based Redox-like Reaction as an Ultrasensitive Direct Electrochemical Biosensing Strategy through Electrostatic Interactions. Chemistry - A European Journal, In Review
Huang, J., Wang, Q., Wang, Z., & Zhang, H. (2019). Insight into Interactions and Reductive Reactivity in Ternary Mixtures of Fe(II), Goethite and Phthalic acid based on a Combined Experimental and Modeling Approach. J. Phy. Chem. C, In review
Zhong, S., Hu, J., Fan, X., Xiong, Y., & Zhang, H. (2019). Deep Neural Network Combined with Molecular Fingerprints to Develop Prediction Models for Rate Constants of Water Contaminants with Hydroxyl Radical. J. Haz. Mat., 383 , 121141.
Huang, J., Wang, Q., Wang, Z., & Zhang, H. (2019). Insight into Interactions and Reductive Reactivity in Ternary Mixtures of Fe(II), Goethite and Phthalic acid based on a Combined Experimental and Modeling Approach. Langmuir, 35 (25), 8220-8227.
Zhong, S., & Zhang, H. (2019). New insight into the reactivity of Mn(III) in bisulfite/permanganate for organic compounds oxidation: The catalytic role of Bisulfite and Oxygen. Water Res., 148 , 198-207.
Huang, J., Dai, Y., Liu, C., & Zhang, H. (2019). Effects of Second Metal Oxides on Surface-Mediated Reduction of Contaminants by Fe(II) with Iron Oxide. ACS Earth Space Chem, 3 , 680-687.
Zhang, H., Rasamani, K., Zhong, S., Taujale, S., Baratta, L., & Yang, Z. (2019). Dissolution, adsorption, and redox reaction in ternary mixtures of goethite, aluminum oxides, and hydroquinone. J. Phys. Chem. C, 123 , 4371-4379.
Zhong, S., & Zhang, H. (2019). Revisit Ligand-Accelerated Oxidation of Substituted Phenols by Permanganate in Aqueous Solution: The Catalytic Role of Mn(III)-Ligand Complexes. Environ. Sci. Technol., In review
Huang, K., & Zhang, H. (2019). Direct Electron Transfer-Based Peroxymonosulfate Activation by Iron-Doped Manganese Oxide (δ-MnO2) and the Development of Galvanic Advanced Oxidation Processes (GAOPs). Environ. Sci. Technol., 53 (21), 12610-12620.
Huang, J., & Zhang, H. (2019). Manganese Oxides as Catalysts for Water and Wastewater Treatment: A Critical Review. Environ. Intern., 133 , 105141.
Zhong, S., & Zhang, H. (2018). New insight into the reactivity of Mn(III) in bisulfite/permanganate for organic compounds oxidation: The catalytic role of Bisulfite and Oxygen. Wat. Res., 148 , 198-207.
Huang, J., Zhong, S., Dai, Y., Liu, C., & Zhang, H. (2018). Effect of Phase Structure of MnO2 on the Oxidation Reactivity toward Contaminant Degradation. Environ. Sci. Technol., 52 (19), 11309–11318.
Huang, J., Zhong, S., Dai, Y., Liu, C., & Zhang, H. (2018). Effect of Phase Structure of MnO2 on the Oxidation Reactivity toward Bisphenol A Degradation. Environ. Sci. Technol., 52 (19), 11309-11318.
Pan, B., Chen, D., Zhang, H., Wu, J., Chen, J., & Chen, J. (2018). Stability of hydrous ferric oxide nanoparticles-encapsulated composite adsorbents for environmental application: effect of solution and matrix phase. Chemical Engineering Journal, 347 , 870-876.
Chen, Y., Dong, S., & Zhang, H. (2018). Reduction of Isoxazoles including Sulfamethoxazole by Aqueous FeII -Tiron Complex: Impact of Structures. Chemical Engineering Journal, 352 , 501-509.
Chen, N., Shuai, W., Hao, X., Zhang, H., Zhou, D., & Gao, J. (2017). The Contamination of Phthalate Esters in Greenhouse Agriculture and Human Cumulative Risk Assessment. Pedosphere, 27 (3), 439-451.
Jadbabaei, N., Ye, T., Shuai, D., & Zhang, H. (2017). Development of palladium-resin composites for catalytic hydrodechlorination of 4-chlorophenol. App. Cat. B, 205 , 576-586.
Jadbabaei, N., Ye, T., Shuai, D., & Zhang, H. (2017). Development of Palladium-Resin Composites for Catalytic Hydrodechlorination of 4-Chlorophenol – Impact of Support Structures. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 205 , 576–586.
Zhang, H., & Wang, S. (2017). Modeling Bisolute Adsorption of Aromatic Compounds Based on Adsorbed Solution Theories. Environmental science & technology, 51 (10), 5552-5562.
Zhang, H., & Wang, S. (2017). Modeling of Bi-Solute Adsorption by Polymeric Resin based on Adsorbed Solution Theories (ASTs). Environ. Sci. Technol. , 51 (10), 5552–5562.
Jadbabaei, N., Slobodjian, R., Shuai, D., & Zhang, H. (2017). Catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol by palladium-resin composites. App. Cat. A, 543 , 209-217.
Jadbabaei, N., Slobodjian, R., Shuai, D., & Zhang, H. (2017). Catalytic Hydrogenation of 4-Nitrophenol by Palladium-Resin Composites. Applied Catalysis A: General, 543C , 209-217.
Taujale, S., Baratta, L., & Zhang, H. (2016). Interactions in ternary mixtures of MnO2, Al2O3, and natural organic matter (NOM) and the impact on MnO2 oxidative reactivity. Environ. Sci. Technol., 50 (5), 2345–2353.
Chen, Y., Dong, S., & Zhang, H. (2016). Experimental and Computational Evidence for the Reduction Mechanisms of Aromatic N-oxides by Aqueous FeII –Tiron Complex. Environ. Sci. Technol., 50 (1), 249–258.
Zhang, H., Taujale, S., Huang, J., & Lee, G. (2015). Effects of NOM on oxidative reactivity of manganese dioxide in binary oxide mixtures with goethite or hematite. Langmuir, 31 , 2790-2799.
Pan, B., & Zhang, H. (2014). Reconstruction of adsorption potential in Polanyi-based models and application to various adsorbents. Environ. Sci. Technol., 48 , 6772−6779.
Jadbabaei, N., & Zhang, H. (2014). Sorption mechanism and predictive models for removal of cationic organic contaminants by cation exchange resins. Environ. Sci. Technol., 48 , 14572-14581.
Zhang, H., & Chen, Y. (2014). Critical review: Principles of redox non-innocent ligands and applications to the fate and transformation of organic contaminants in the environment. Environ. Sci. Technol., In prep.
Zhang, H., Shields, A., Jadbabaei, N., Nelson, M., Pan, B., & Suri, R. (2014). Understanding and Modeling Removal of Anionic Organic Contaminants (AOCs) by Anion Exchange Resins. Environ. Sci. Technol., 48 , 7494-7502.
Chen, Y., & Zhang, H. (2013). Complexation facilitated reduction of aromatic N-oxides by aqueous FeII-tiron Complex: Reaction kinetics and mechanisms. Environ. Sci. Technol., 47 , 11023−11031.
Zhang, H., & Weber, E. (2013). Identifying indicators of reactivity for chemical reductants in natural sediments. Environ. Sci. Technol., 47 , 6959–6968.
Pan, B., & Zhang, H. (2013). Interaction mechanisms and predictive model for the sorption of aromatic compounds onto nonionic resins. J. Phys. Chem. C, 117 , 17707−17715.
Pan, B., & Zhang, H. (2012). A modified Polanyi-based model for mechanistic understanding of adsorption of phenolic compounds onto polymeric adsorbents. Environ. Sci. Technol., 46 (12), 6806-6814.
Taujale, S., & Zhang, H. (2012). Impact of interactions between metal oxides to oxidative reactivity of manganese dioxide. Environ. Sci. Technol., 46 , 2764−2771.
Zhang, H., & Weber, E. (2009). Elucidating the role of electron shuttles in reductive transformations in anaerobic sediments. Environ. Sci. Technol., 43 (4), 1042-1048.
Zhang, H., Chen, W., & Huang, C. (2008). Kinetic modeling of oxidation of antibacterial agents by manganese oxide. Environ. Sci. Technol., 42 , 5548-5554.
Zhang, H., & Lemley, A. (2007). Evaluation of the performance of flow-through anodic Fenton treatment in amide compound degradation. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 55 (10), 4073-4079.
Zhang, H., & Huang, C. (2007). Adsorption and oxidation of fluoroquinolone antibacterial agents and structurally related amines with goethite. Chemosphere, 66 (8), 1502-1512.
Hong, S., Zhang, H., Duttweiler, C., & Lemley, A. (2007). Degradation of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) by anodic Fenton treatment. J. Hazard. Mater., 144 (1), 29-40.
Zhang, H., & Lemley, A. (2006). Reaction mechanism and kinetic modeling of DEET degradation by flow-through anodic Fenton treatment (FAFT). Environ. Sci. Technol., 40 (14), 4488-4494.
Zhang, H., & Huang, C. (2005). Reactivity and transformation of antibacterial N-oxides in the presence of manganese oxide. Environ. Sci. Technol., 39 , 593-601.
Zhang, H., & Huang, C. (2005). Oxidative transformation of fluoroquinolone antibacterial agents and structurally related amines by manganese oxide. Environmental science & technology, 39 (12), 4474-4483.
Zhang, H., & Huang, C. (2003). Oxidative transformation of triclosan and chlorophene by manganese oxides. Environ. Sci. Technol., 37 , 2421-2430.
Xu, Z.;, Zhang, H., Wang, Y., Zhang, Q., & Chen, J. (1999). Treatment of wastewater from production of naphthalene series dyestuff intermediates by macroporous resin adsorption processes. Chinese Journal of Environmental Protection in Chemical Industry, 19 , 20-24.