Cleaning Our Water
The work to improve the systems keeping our water safe is ever-evolving and increasingly challenging, but one that Earth and Environmental Studies Professor Yang Deng is tackling head on. Deng was awarded a $750,000 grant to research and develop innovative wastewater reuse technologies for agricultural irrigation.
The goal is to develop design principles for a novel iron-based water reuse process to transform municipal wastewater into quality irrigation water, supporting the resilience and sustainability of U.S. agriculture, while mitigating climate change and adapting to its impacts, Deng says.
“The technology will enable local water recycling in a more cost- and energy-efficient manner and thus reduce the reliance on long-distance water and wastewater transport, which is the current dominant water management scheme,” Deng says.
During his time at Montclair State University, Deng has secured more than $2.5 million in research funding and authored or co-authored 125 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Committed to mentoring students and professionals at all levels, Deng has also provided guidance to high school interns from around New Jersey and early-career scientists around the world.