Interests
Dr. Speitel's teaching interests include biological treatment processes, disinfection by-product formation and control, adsorption, microbiology, and treatment plant design. His research focuses on hazardous chemicals, especially biodegradation and adsorption as applied to the treatment of drinking water, ground water, contaminated soil, and contaminated gas streams. Related areas of interest are formation and control of halogenated disinfection by-products, computer modeling of treatment processes, optimal design of treatment processes, and microbial processes in the subsurface. Recently funded research addresses formation of disinfection by-products in drinking water treatment during chloramination, cometabolism of trihalomethanes in drinking water biofilters and distribution systems, adsorption of arsenic on granular metal oxides, in situ biodegradation of perchlorate, biodegradation and adsorption in activated carbon columns, and, aerobic biodegradation of chlorinated solvents in hollow fiber membrane reactors for ground water and air treatment. For additional information, see Dr. Speitel's home page.

Education
B.S., Union College, Civil Engineering, 1976
M.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Environmental Engineering, 1979
Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Environmental Engineering, 1985

Wahman, D.W., Katz, L.E., and Speitel, G.E. Jr. “Cometabolism of Trihalomethanes by a Mixed-Culture Nitrifying Biofilter,” Journal American Water Works Association, 98 (12): 48-60, 2006.

Morley , M.C., Yamamoto , H., Speitel, G.E., Jr., and Clausen, J. “Fate and Transport of High Explosives in a Saturated Sandy Soil: Particle Dissolution Kinetics,” Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 85 : 141– 158, 2006.

Kalscheur, K.N., Gerwe, C.G., Kweon, J.H., Lawler, D.F., and Speitel, G.E., Jr., “Enhanced Softening: Effects of Source Water Quality on Natural Organic Matter Removal and Disinfection By-Product Formation,” Journal American Water Works Association, 98 (11): 93-106, 2006.

Pressman, J.G., Georgiou, G., and Speitel, G.E. Jr., “Scale-Up Considerations for a Hollow Fiber Membrane Bioreactor Treating Trichloroethylene-Contaminated Water,” Water Environment Research, 77 (5): 533-542, 2005.

Putz , A.H., Losh, D.E., and Speitel, G.E., Jr., “Removal of Nonbiodegradable Chemicals from Mixtures during GAC Bioregeneration,” Journal of Environmental Engineering , American Society of Civil Engineers, 131 (2): 196-205, 2005.

Alvarez-Cohen, L. and Speitel, G.E. Jr., “Kinetics of Aerobic Cometabolism of Chlorinated Solvents,” Biodegradation, 12 (2): 105-126, 2001.