Thomas Voice
Professor Civil and Environmental Engineering and Associate Director, Midwest Hazardous Substance Research Center | Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI, UNITED STATES
An expert in environmental contamination, water treatment, and industrial waste.
Media
Publications:
Documents:
Videos:
Audio/Podcasts:
Biography
Professor Voice's research involves the mass-transfer of chemical contaminants in systems of environmental interest, with emphasis on interactions between pollutants and soils, sediments, and suspended solids. Current research is focused on the environmental impact and remediation of terrestrial chemical spills. He is involved in research on water and waste treatment systems that utilize activated carbon absorption. Professor Voice maintains a strong secondary interest in the development of new and improved methods for chemical analysis.
Industry Expertise (2)
Writing and Editing
Education/Learning
Areas of Expertise (3)
Industrial waste
Environmental Contamination
Water Treatment
Education (3)
University of Michigan: Ph.D.
University of Michigan: M.S.E.
University of Michigan: B.S.E.
Links (1)
Journal Articles (3)
Effect of filler incorporation route on the properties of polysulfone–silver nanocomposite membranes of different porosities
Journal of Membrane ScienceThomas Voice et al.
2008 Flat sheet porous polysulfone–silver nanocomposite membranes were synthesized by the wet phase inversion process. The effects of casting mixture composition and nanoparticle incorporation route on the morphological and separation properties of prepared membranes were studied by comparing nanocomposites of different preparations with silver-free controls. Silver nanoparticles were either synthesized ex situ and then added to the casting solution as an organosol or produced in the casting solution via in situ reduction of ionic silver by the polymer solvent. Nanocomposite membranes of three types differing in skin porosity and macrovoid structure were prepared. The structure and properties of nanocomposites were interpreted in terms of the coupling between the processes of nanoparticle formation and gelling of the polymer-rich phase during phase inversion. Larger nanoparticles preferentially located in the skin layer were observed in composites prepared via the ex situ method while in situ reduction of silver led to formation of smaller nanoparticles homogeneously distributed along the membrane cross-section. In some cases, incorporation of nanoscale silver formed ex situ resulted in macrovoid widening and an order of magnitude decrease in hydraulic resistance accompanied by only a moderate decrease in rejection. The accessibility of the silver nanoparticles embedded in the membrane was quantitatively assessed by the degree of the growth inhibition of a membrane biofilm due to the ionic silver released by the nanocomposites and was found to depend on the method of silver incorporation.
Biological Activated Carbon in Fluidized Bed Reactors for the Treatment of Groundwater Contaminated with Volatile Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Water ResearchThomas Voice et al.
1992 A comparison of fluidized bed reactor systems with (1) adsorptive removal capacity only using granular activated carbon (GAC) without microbial growth, (2) combined biological and adsorptive removal mechanisms using GAC with microbial growth and (3) biological removal only using nonactivated carbon with microbial growth was performed. These three systems were fed groundwater contaminated with benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX). The breakthrough profiles, steady-state removal of BTX and system responses to step increases in applied organic loading rates were investigated. During start-up, even though the same amount of inoculum was added to the two biological systems, the time required until effective biodegradation commenced in the system employing GAC as a biomass carrier was less than that observed for the system using non-activated carbon (200 vs 500 h). Significantly less BTX was released during this period by the system with combined removal mechanisms and the development of a contiguous biofilm was more rapid. Under constant, steady state, organic loading conditions (3 and 6 kg-COD/m3-day), BTX removals were similar for the two biological systems, although the system employing the GAC carrier had lower effluent concentrations at the lower loading rate. More than 90% of the BTX were removed in both systems. During step increases in organic loading, however, the combination of biological and adsorptive removal capacity resulted in enhanced BTX removal and more stable operation. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the extent of surface coverage of the GAC and non-activated carbon by the biofilm. Particles from both systems were observed to be completely covered by a contiguous, thick biofilm.
Prediction of Leachate Concentrations in Petroleum Contaminated Soils
Journal of Soil ContaminationThomas Voice et al.
1992 The efficacy of cleanup methods in reducing gasoline contamination at spill sites is typically determined by measuring benzene, toluene, xylene (BTX), and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations in soil samples. Although these values may provide a direct measurement of soil contamination, they may not be indicative of what is transferred to percolating water. This study addresses this issue by measuring TPH, toluene, m‐ and p‐xylene, and naphthalene levels in gasoline‐contaminated soil columns before and after forced‐air venting and relating these values to the aqueous‐phase concentrations measured when water is percolated through the same columns.
