Professor, School of Environmental and Earth Sciences, faculty of Exact Sciences, Director of the Water Research Center and the head of the Hydrochemistry Research Group at Tel-Aviv University. Dror has a broad background in hydrochemistry, with specific training and expertise in environmental chemistry research and the development of unique analytical methods. Dror’s research focuses on the understanding the physico-chemical processes and the occurrence and transport of various persistent contaminants within the aquatic environment. Additionally, Dror’s research group is investing lots of efforts to develop and to optimize innovative technologies to break down and remove these contaminants from various water sources. Phone: +972522993181 Address: The Water Research Center, Hydrochemistry Lab, School of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences, POB 39040, Tel Aviv University
The Abalone Cove landslide occupies 80 acres of an ancient landslide complex on the Palos Verdes ... more The Abalone Cove landslide occupies 80 acres of an ancient landslide complex on the Palos Verdes peninsula, and was re-activated in 1979. The uphill portion of the ancient landslide complex has remained stable in historic times. Water infiltration into the slide is a short term catalyst for mass movement in the area, so it is important to determine the sources
Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology
This work provides for the first time simple metrics and a decision tree to predict the degradabi... more This work provides for the first time simple metrics and a decision tree to predict the degradability of contaminants during UV/NO3− groundwater treatment.
Abstract In view of water-resource depletion, treated wastewater can serve as an alternative sour... more Abstract In view of water-resource depletion, treated wastewater can serve as an alternative source for crop irrigation. However, conventional wastewater-treatment plants are energy-intensive and costly to construct and operate, especially for lower middle-income countries. The present study focused on improving the quality of wastewater by incorporating a coupled microalgal–bacterial biofilm (CMBB) treatment in wastewater ponds. Standard polyether sponges were dipped in raw wastewater samples to enhance biofilm development on them. The enriched sponges were used to treat wastewater, with or without external energy for aeration. Wastewater parameters were analyzed during the enrichment and treatment processes. The CMBB technology and aeration resulted in similar improvement of effluent quality, but the former saved on energy costs, and reduced total chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 36 % within 24 h and 71 % within 4 days; the values of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), ammonium and phosphates decreased by 80 %, 64 % and 95 %, respectively, within 7 days. The resultant COD and BOD values were below the maximum allowed for reuse and discharge.
In this study, micrometer thick Ag‐TiO2 coatings were deposited in a single and facile step by sp... more In this study, micrometer thick Ag‐TiO2 coatings were deposited in a single and facile step by spraying the precursor in an atmospheric pressure plasma jet with different concentrations of Ag nanoparticles. The homogenous distribution of Ag decreased the TiO 2 crystal size and increased the surface area. The coatings were characterized to be porous with an anatase phase with improved charge separation and visible light absorption. The photocatalytic activity of the materials was investigated for degrading rhodamine B using a white lamp as a screening method to optimize Ag‐TiO 2 coatings. Then the photodegradation of trace pharmaceutical compounds (TrPCs) was investigated by using a solar light simulator at the optimal condition of a TiO 2 coating with 0.4wt% Ag.
Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts, Oct 1, 2020
Abstract Microalgae applications are becoming more and more diverse, from wastewater treatment to... more Abstract Microalgae applications are becoming more and more diverse, from wastewater treatment to biofuel and plastics production. Another promising and sustainable application is the removal of organic compound from drinking water and wastewater sources. This study focused on the removal of the iodinated contrast media, iohexol by the microalga Chlorella vulgaris. C. vulgaris removed 40–50% of the iohexol from the medium in 27 days, 23–30% of which was biodegraded through two main pathways: oxidation and hydrolysis. Similar transformation pathways, producing the same degradation products, were observed for incubation with microalgae and for ozonation.
Ceramic-based photocatalytic membrane reactors (cPMRs) are becoming increasingly popular among re... more Ceramic-based photocatalytic membrane reactors (cPMRs) are becoming increasingly popular among researchers and will soon be seen on the water/wastewater-treatment market. This review provides a thorough analysis of the available data on cPMRs fabricated to date based on coating method, support and coating materials, membrane design, pore size and model compounds used to evaluate process efficiency and light source. While all of the studies describe cPMR preparation in great detail, over half do not provide any information about their performance. The rest used various dyes that can be conveniently detected by spectrophotometry/fluorimetry, or micropollutants that require analytical equipment available only in specialized laboratories. In addition, cPMRs are viewed as a convenient way of incorporating a photocatalyst on an inert surface assuming that the surface itself, i.e. the membrane, does not participate in the treatment process. A unified test for cPMR performance should be developed and implemented for all cPMRs that have the potential for commercialization. There is a need for standardization in cPMR testing; only then can the true performance of cPMRs be evaluated and compared. Such testing will also answer the question of whether the cPMR membrane is indeed an inert support or an active part of the treatment process.
The Abalone Cove landslide occupies 80 acres of an ancient landslide complex on the Palos Verdes ... more The Abalone Cove landslide occupies 80 acres of an ancient landslide complex on the Palos Verdes peninsula, and was re-activated in 1979. The uphill portion of the ancient landslide complex has remained stable in historic times. Water infiltration into the slide is a short term catalyst for mass movement in the area, so it is important to determine the sources
Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology
This work provides for the first time simple metrics and a decision tree to predict the degradabi... more This work provides for the first time simple metrics and a decision tree to predict the degradability of contaminants during UV/NO3− groundwater treatment.
Abstract In view of water-resource depletion, treated wastewater can serve as an alternative sour... more Abstract In view of water-resource depletion, treated wastewater can serve as an alternative source for crop irrigation. However, conventional wastewater-treatment plants are energy-intensive and costly to construct and operate, especially for lower middle-income countries. The present study focused on improving the quality of wastewater by incorporating a coupled microalgal–bacterial biofilm (CMBB) treatment in wastewater ponds. Standard polyether sponges were dipped in raw wastewater samples to enhance biofilm development on them. The enriched sponges were used to treat wastewater, with or without external energy for aeration. Wastewater parameters were analyzed during the enrichment and treatment processes. The CMBB technology and aeration resulted in similar improvement of effluent quality, but the former saved on energy costs, and reduced total chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 36 % within 24 h and 71 % within 4 days; the values of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), ammonium and phosphates decreased by 80 %, 64 % and 95 %, respectively, within 7 days. The resultant COD and BOD values were below the maximum allowed for reuse and discharge.
In this study, micrometer thick Ag‐TiO2 coatings were deposited in a single and facile step by sp... more In this study, micrometer thick Ag‐TiO2 coatings were deposited in a single and facile step by spraying the precursor in an atmospheric pressure plasma jet with different concentrations of Ag nanoparticles. The homogenous distribution of Ag decreased the TiO 2 crystal size and increased the surface area. The coatings were characterized to be porous with an anatase phase with improved charge separation and visible light absorption. The photocatalytic activity of the materials was investigated for degrading rhodamine B using a white lamp as a screening method to optimize Ag‐TiO 2 coatings. Then the photodegradation of trace pharmaceutical compounds (TrPCs) was investigated by using a solar light simulator at the optimal condition of a TiO 2 coating with 0.4wt% Ag.
Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts, Oct 1, 2020
Abstract Microalgae applications are becoming more and more diverse, from wastewater treatment to... more Abstract Microalgae applications are becoming more and more diverse, from wastewater treatment to biofuel and plastics production. Another promising and sustainable application is the removal of organic compound from drinking water and wastewater sources. This study focused on the removal of the iodinated contrast media, iohexol by the microalga Chlorella vulgaris. C. vulgaris removed 40–50% of the iohexol from the medium in 27 days, 23–30% of which was biodegraded through two main pathways: oxidation and hydrolysis. Similar transformation pathways, producing the same degradation products, were observed for incubation with microalgae and for ozonation.
Ceramic-based photocatalytic membrane reactors (cPMRs) are becoming increasingly popular among re... more Ceramic-based photocatalytic membrane reactors (cPMRs) are becoming increasingly popular among researchers and will soon be seen on the water/wastewater-treatment market. This review provides a thorough analysis of the available data on cPMRs fabricated to date based on coating method, support and coating materials, membrane design, pore size and model compounds used to evaluate process efficiency and light source. While all of the studies describe cPMR preparation in great detail, over half do not provide any information about their performance. The rest used various dyes that can be conveniently detected by spectrophotometry/fluorimetry, or micropollutants that require analytical equipment available only in specialized laboratories. In addition, cPMRs are viewed as a convenient way of incorporating a photocatalyst on an inert surface assuming that the surface itself, i.e. the membrane, does not participate in the treatment process. A unified test for cPMR performance should be developed and implemented for all cPMRs that have the potential for commercialization. There is a need for standardization in cPMR testing; only then can the true performance of cPMRs be evaluated and compared. Such testing will also answer the question of whether the cPMR membrane is indeed an inert support or an active part of the treatment process.
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Papers by Dror Avisar