Professor Campus Location: 633 Academic Center Office Hours: M 2:00 - 3:30 PM, R 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Personal Home Page: --- E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Phone: 202-994-5947 Fax: 202-994-0127

Academic Interests

Water and Wastewater Treatment, Sustainability and Pollution Prevention, Advanced Processes for Nutrient Removal, Anaerobic Digestion.

Education

Ph.D.   Civil Engineering (Environmental Engineering), Iowa State University, Iowa (1994)
M.S.     Civil Engineering (Environmental Engineering), Iowa State University, Iowa (1991)
B.S.     Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Tech., Bangladesh (1988)

Current Research

Evaluation of alternative carbon sources for denitrification of wastewater. Determination of kinetic coefficients of various carbon sources.

Experimental investigation of advanced digestion processes for production of Class-A biosolids.

Professional Experiences

Professor of Civil Engineering (August 2009 - present), Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, George Washington University, Washington, DC.
 
Associate Professor of Civil Engineering (August 2000- July 2009), Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, George Washington University, Washington, DC.

Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering (August 1994-July 2000), Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, George Washington University, Washington, DC.

Visiting Assistant Professor (Summer 1997), Department of Environmental Studies, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Lecturer (August 1988 - July 1989), Department of Water Resources Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Awards

Nominated for the Harrison Prescott Eddy Medal of Water Environment Federation
for a publication in Water Environment Research Journal, 2009. The medal is awarded for research that makes a vital contribution to the existing knowledge of the fundamental principles or processes of wastewater treatment.

Nominated for the George Bradley Gascoigne Medal of Water Environment Federation for a publication in Water Environment Research Journal, 2009. The medal is awarded to the author(s) of an article which presents the solution of an important and complicated operational problem within a full-scale, operating wastewater treatment plant.
Publications

Selected Publications

Journal Publications

1. Neupane, D., Riffat, R., Murthy, S., Peric, M., and Wilson, T. (2008) “Influence Of Source Characteristics, Chemicals And Flocculation On Chemically Enhanced Primary Treatment.” Water Environment Research, vol. 80, no. 4, 331-338.

2. Shuhaibar, B. and Riffat, R. (2008) “Development of a Process for Harmful Algal Bloom Prediction using GIS and Trend Analysis for the Terrestrial Waters of Kuwait.” Accepted for publication in the Journal of Environmental Informatics, vol.12, no. 2, 160-173.

3. Dold, P., Takacs, I., Mokhayeri, Y., Nichols, A., Hinojosa, J., Riffat, R., Bott, C., Bailey, W. and Murthy S. (2008) “Denitrification with Carbon Addition – Kinetic Considerations.” Water Environment Research, vol. 80, no. 5, 417-427.

4. Mokhayeri, Y., Riffat, R., Takacs, I., Dold, P., Bott, C., Hinojosa, J., Bailey, W., and Murthy, S. (2008) “Characterizing Denitrification Kinetics at Cold Temperature using Various Carbon Sources in Lab-Scale Sequencing Batch Reactors.” Water Science and Technology, vol. 58, no.1. 233-238.

5. Peric, M., Riffat, R., Murthy, S., Neupane, D., and Cassel, A. (2008) “Development of a Laboratory Clarifier Test to Predict Full-Scale Primary Clarifier Performance.” International Journal of Environmental Research, vol. 2, no. 2, 103-110.

6. Buelna G., and Riffat R. (2007) “Preliminary Environmental Monitoring of Water Quality in the Rio Grande in the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Region.” Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A: Toxic/Hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering,  vol. 42, no.10, 1379-1390.

7. Riffat, R. and Krongthamchat, K. (2007) “Anaerobic Treatment of High Saline Wastewater using Halophilic Methanogens in Laboratory Scale Anaerobic Filters.” Water Environment Research, vol.79, no.2, 191-198.

8.   Mokhayeri, Y., Nichols, A., Murthy, S., Riffat, R., Dold, P., and Takacs, I. (2006) “Examining the Influence of Substrates and Temperature on Maximum Specific Growth Rate of Denitrifiers.” Water Science and Technology, vol. 54, no. 8, 155-162.

9.   Khan, D., and Riffat, R. (2006) “Strategies for Improving Environmental Impact Assessment Process in Pakistan.” Journal of Engineering &Applied Science, vol.25, no.1, 67-75. 

10. Riffat, R. and Khan, D. (2006) “A Review and Evaluation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Process in Pakistan.” Journal of Applied Sciences in Environmental Sanitation vol.1, 17-29.

11.   Krongthamchat, K., Riffat, R., and Dararat, S. (2006) “Effect of trace metals on halophilic and mixed cultures in anaerobic treatment.” International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 3, no.2, 103-112.

12.   Riffat, R. and Krongthamchat, K. (2006) “Specific Methanogenic Activity of Halophilic and Mixed Cultures in Saline Wastewater.” International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 2, no. 4, 291-299.

13.   Riffat, R., Jahan, K., Tallent, R., Krongthamchat, K., and Dararat, S. (2002) “Anaerobic Processes.” Water Environment Research, 74, 5.

14. Riffat, R., Krongthamchat, K., and Dararat, S. (2001) “Anaerobic Processes.” Water Environment Research, vol. 73, no. 5.

15. Riffat, R., Dararat, S., and K. Krongthamchat (2000) “Anaerobic Processes.” Water Environment Research, vol. 72, no. 5.

16. Riffat, R., Weeks, J. L., and Brady, P. (1999) "Safety Alert." Industrial Wastewater. Vol. 70, no. 3, 31-34.

17. Riffat, R., Dararat, S., and K. Krongthamchat (1999) “Anaerobic Processes.” Water Environment Research,  vol. 71, no. 5, 656-676.

18. Riffat, R., Sajjad, M. W. and Dararat, S. (1998) “Anaerobic Processes.” Water Environment Research, vol. 70, no. 4, 518-540.

19. Riffat, R. and R. R. Dague (1995)  “Laboratory Studies on the Anaerobic Biosorption Process.”  Water Environment Research, vol 67, no 7, 1104-1110. 

Research Report

Riffat, R., Weeks, J. L., Balbus, J., Desai, S. and Moody, J. (1999) "Protecting Workers from Exposure to Chemical and Physical Hazards at Wastewater Treatment Plants." Project 97-HHE-3, Water Environment Research Foundation, Alexandria, VA.

Book Chapter

Riffat, R. (2000) Chapter Thirteen, Section Seven: “Water Supply Treatment.” In Standard Handbook of Environmental Science, Health and Technology. Lehr, J. ed., McGraw-Hill Inc., New York.