Dharni Vasudevan

Associate Professor of Chemistry and Environmental Studies

Spring 2009

  • Perspectives in Environmental Science (BIO 158)
  • Environmental Chemistry (CHEM 205)
Phone (207) 725-3548
Title Associate Professor
Department CHEMISTRY
2nd Title Associate Professor
2nd Department ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Work Location 258 Cleaveland Hall
E-Mail dvasudev@bowdoin.edu
vasudevan

EDUCATION:

Ph.D. Environmental Chemistry, Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 1996.
M.S.E. Environmental Engineering, Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 1992.
B.S. Environmental Engineering Science, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1990.

RESEARCH:

Dr. Vasudevan's research is concerned with the fate of synthetic and naturally occurring organic and inorganic compounds. Her work focuses on the mechanisms by which organic and inorganic compounds interact with mineral surfaces in soil and aquatic environments. Central research issues include the study of sorption, desorption and coordination chemistry; surface complexation theory; mineral precipitation, dissolution, and weathering; and surface-assisted chemical transformation processes. Dr. Vasudevan and her group use a combination of controlled laboratory experiments, molecular and surface complexation modeling, and statistical tools in their research. Completed and current projects have emphasized the study of iron oxide rich soils, and pure phase minerals (iron, aluminum and titanium oxides, silica, and kaolinite) and include:

  • Polar and ionic organic compound (pesticides/herbicides, pharmaceuticals) sorption-desorption in soils;,
  • Sorption of organic ligands with -OH, -COOH, -NH2, heterocyclic N groups at the metal-oxide water interface;
  • Influence of phosphate on organic compound retention in soils;
  • Fluoride sorption to soils and associated aluminum release.
  • Sorption of approved tracers and their potential use as surrogates for pesticide fate and transport;
  • Chemometric analysis of pesticide and pharmaceutical retention in soils

PUBLICATIONS:

  • VASUDEVAN, D., G.L. Bruland, B.S. Torrance*, V.G. Upchurch*, A.A. MacKay. 2008. pH-dependent Ciprofloxacin Sorption to Soils: Interaction mechanisms and soil factors influencing sorption. Geoderma. (in review). 
  • Carrasquillo*, A.J., G.L. Bruland, A.A. MacKay, D.VASUDEVAN. 2008. Sorption of ciprofloxacin and oxytetracycline zwitterions to soils and soil minerals: Influence of compound structure. Environmental Science and Technology, 2008, 42, 7634-7642. 
  • Fimmen, R.L., D.D. Richter Jr., D. VASUDEVAN, M.A. Williams, L.T. West. 2008. Rhizogenic Fe-C redox cycling in deep upland soils: A hypothetical biogeochemical mechanism that drives crustal weathering. Biogeochemistry, 87, 127-141. 
  • Fimmen, R.L., T.D. Trouts, D.D. Richter, D. VASUDEVAN. 2008. Improved speciation of dissolved organic nitrogen in natural waters: amide hydrolysis with fluorescence derivatization. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 20, 1273-1280. 
  • Trivedi, P. and D.VASUDEVAN.  2007. Spectroscopic Investigation of Ciprofloxacin Speciation at the Goethite-Water Interface.  Environmental Science and Technology, 41, 3153-3158.
  • Jones, A.D., G. L. Bruland, S.G. Agrawal†, D. VASUDEVAN. 2005. Factors influencing oxytetracycline sorption to soils. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 24, 761-770.
  • VASUDEVAN, D. and E.M. Cooper. 2004. 2,4-D Sorption in Iron-Oxide Rich Soils: Role of soil phosphate and exchangeable Al. Environmental Science and Technology, 38, 163-170.
    Abstract   Full Article:  HTML / PDF (156K)
  • †Harrington, L.F, E.M. Cooper, and D. VASUDEVAN. 2003. Fluoride sorption and related Al release in variable charge soils. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 267, 302-313.
    Abstract
  • VASUDEVAN, D., E.M. Cooper, and O.L. Van Exem. 2002. Sorption-Desorption of ionogenic compounds at the mineral-water interface: A comparison of metal oxide rich soils and pure phase minerals. Environmental Science and Technology, 36, 501-511.
    Abstract   Full Article:  HTML / PDF (171K)
  • VASUDEVAN, D., R.L. Fimmen, and A.B. Francisco. 2001a. Tracer Grade Rhodamine WT: Structure of constituent isomers and their sorption behavior. Environmental Science and Technology, 35, 4089-4096.
    Abstract   Full Article:  HTML / PDF (188K)
  • VASUDEVAN, D., P. J. Dorley, and X. Zhuang. 2001b. Adsorption of hydroxy- pyridines and quinolines at the metal oxide-water interface: Role of tautomeric equilibrium. Environmental Science and Technology, 35, 2006-3013.
    Abstract   Full Article:  HTML / PDF  (119K)
  • Sutton, D., Z.J. Kabala, A. B. Francisco, and D. VASUDEVAN. 2001c. Limitations and Potential of Commerially Available Rhodamine WT as a Groundwater Tracer. Water Resources Research, 37, 6, 1641-1656.
  • VASUDEVAN, D. and A.T. Stone. 1998a. Adsorption of Catechols, 2-Aminophenols and 1,2-Phenylenediamines at the Metal Oxide/Water Interface: Effect of Metal Oxide Structure. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 202, 1, 1-19.
    Abstract
  • VASUDEVAN, D. and A.T. Stone. 1998b. Adsorption of Dissolved Organic Ligands onto (Hydr)oxide Minerals, In: Soil Chemistry and Ecosystem Health, SSSA Special Publication, 52, SSSA, Madison, WI.
  • Miller, P.L., D. VASUDEVAN, P.M. Gschwend, and A.L. Roberts. 1998c. Transformation of Hexachloroethane in Sulfidic Lake Water. Environmental Science and Technology, 32, 1269-1275.
    Abstract   Full Article:  HTML / PDF (116K)
  • VASUDEVAN, D. and A.T. Stone. 1996. Adsorption of Catechols, 2-Aminophenols and 1,2-Phenylenediamines at the Metal (Hydr)Oxide/Water Interface: Effect of Ring Substituents on the Adsorption onto TiO2, Environmental Science and Technology, 30, 1604-1613.
    Abstract   Full Article:  HTML / PDF (429K)
  • Stone, A.T., A. Torrents, J. Smolen, D. VASUDEVAN, and J. Hadley. 1993. Adsorption of Organic Compounds Possessing Ligand Donor Groups at the Oxide/Water Interface, Environmental Science and Technology, 27, 895-909.
    First Page (PDF) Full Article:  PDF (1809K)

* Bowdoin College Undergraduates
† Duke University Undergraduates

STUDENT RESEARCH

Summer 2008 - Spring 2009

Mark Newman. Cationic Amine sorption to aluminosilicates:  inter-molecular interaction (Summer, Fall, Spring)  

Summer 2007 - Spring 2008 (Vasudevan on sabbatical leave)

Anthony Carrasquillo. (honors) Influence of Molecular Structure on Sorption of Cationic Amines to Aluminosilicate Clay minerals- (Summer)  

Summer 2006 - Spring 2007  

Kelly Rula. Bioremediation: Principles and Processes (Fall)
Anthony Carrasquillo. (honors) Influence of Molecular Structure on Sorption of Cationic Amines to Aluminosilicate Clay minerals- (Summer, Fall, Spring)
Elizabeth Onderko. Retention and desorption of DNA to iron oxides and iron rich minerals (Summer)
Kelly Pitts. Analysis of biodiesel production by transesterification of a high free fatty acid feedstock - Use of waste oil from Bowdoin Dining (Summer)
Brendan Torrance. Probing the Connections Between Wastewater Contamination and Marine Animal Health (Summer)

Summer 2005- Spring 2006

Anthony Carrasquillo. Mechanisms of Oxytetracycline sorption to model soil components (Summer); Analysis of sorption of Oxytetracycline to soils through probe compound analysis (Spring)
Amber Davis. Chemical Analysis of Activity Residues at a Maya Marketplace (Summer, Fall, Spring)
Adam Hall. DNA quantification and sorption to iron oxides (Summer).
Brendan Torrance. Ciprofloxacin sorption to soils (Summer)

Summer 2004-Spring 2005

Tim Cashman: Sorption of oxytetracycline substructures onto metal oxides and aluminosilicates. (Summer and Fall)
Amber Davis: DNA analysis, sorption, and desorption from soil iron oxides.(Summer)
Brendan Torrance: Sorption of Ciprofloxacin onto soils of eastern United States (Summer and Fall).
Virginia Upchurch: Development of a fluorescence based analytical technique for quantifying DNA concentration (Fall).
Virginia Upchruch: Evaluation of the sorption and desorption of ciprofloxacin in soils of the eastern united states (Spring).
Kiersa Benson. A Survey of the Effects of the Sprague River Salt Marsh Restoration (Summer, Fall, Spring) - co advised with L. Whitlow.
Sarah Close. A Survey of the Effects of the Sprague River Salt Marsh Restoration (Summer, Fall, Spring) - co advised with L. Whitlow.

Complete CV in PDF FormatPDF» (228K)

LINKS:

Chemistry Professor Studies Antibiotics in Soil