SIGN UP FOR THE BRACE NEWSLETTER
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) remain one of the most persistent and challenging environmental contaminants, capable of moving through soils, sediments, and stormwater and ultimately entering the food chain. Their toxicity and resistance to degradation make them a priority for remediation, especially in regions working to meet Clean Water Act standards and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements.
In this seminar, Prof. Birthe Kjellerup will share new research examining PCB behavior across a range of Maryland sites representing different land uses and development eras. Her team measured all 209 PCB congeners and compared their concentrations with soil characteristics such as particle size distribution. The study also explored how PCBs partition between particle‑bound and dissolved phases, offering insight into how stormwater mobilizes contaminants from local soils and roadway sediments.
These findings support the development of cost‑effective treatment train strategies designed to remove PCBs from stormwater, soils, and sediments. Prof. Kjellerup will also discuss the potential for biodegradation as part of a multi‑step remediation approach, highlighting opportunities to integrate biological processes into long‑term solutions.
Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of PCB transport and treatment. This seminar offers a grounded look at how PCBs move through real‑world environments and the innovative strategies that can safeguard both ecological and public health.
Prof. Birthe Kjellerup
Birthe Kjellerup is a Professor at the University of Maryland in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering with secondary appointments in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering and in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the A. James Clark School of Engineering. She also serves as the Chair for Civil Empowerment in her department.
Dr. Kjellerup has trained as an environmental engineer and microbiologist specializing in beneficial and detrimental aspects of microbial communities with a focus on biofilms for over 25 years. The past decades her research group has utilized this perspective to address the issues with persistent organic pollutants in stormwater, groundwater, wastewater, soil and sediment, where she has led several interdisciplinary research projects. She has pioneered the application of biofilms on sorptive materials (such as activated carbon and biochar) for bioremediation and used them to develop novel bioremediation strategies.
Dr. Kjellerup has a strong background in team based multidisciplinary research, where she has obtained nearly $10 million from local, state and federal funding agencies in the past 8 years. Dr. Kjellerup has served on more than 45 graduate committees and is the primary advisor for six graduate students and four undergraduate students. She also serves as a senior editor for the journal Biofilm published by Elsevier and is involved in leadership positions for American Society for Microbiology. She is also one of two Governor appointed Commissioners from Maryland for the Interstate Commission for the Potomac River Basin
