Mark A. Nanny, Boggs Professor of Engineering Education

Professor, environmental Chemistry
School of civil engineering & environmental science
College of Engineering
Institute for Energy and the Environment
College of Earth and Energy

University of Oklahoma; Norman, OK 73019
Email:  nanny@ou.edu

RESEARCH:

• Understanding and characterizing complex environmental processes at a molecular level; quantitatively measuring the influence on non-covalent interactions between organic compounds and natural organic matter on the process of bioavailability, biodegradation rates and products, pollutant aging and electron transfer reactions of natural organic matter.
• Characterization of complex organic mixtures, e.g. landfill leachate, lignocellulose solid wastes, natural organic matter, and wastewater.
• Use of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and fluorescence spectroscopy to examine molecular motion of organic molecules associated covalently and non-covalently with dissolved and solid phase organic matrices such as natural organic matter, black carbon materials and carbonaceous nanomaterials.

Dr. Nanny’s research efforts focus on characterizing the chemical composition and morphology of biofilm communities and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), confocal fluorescence laser microscopy (CFLM) and other techniques.  Since it is not yet feasible to utilize NMR with intact metal surfaces, his team is developing procedures for removing biofilms, extracting EPS, and separating EPS components for analysis.