Contact Professor Bruce Jefferson

Areas of expertise

  • Water Science and Engineering

Background

Professor Bruce Jefferson is a chemical engineer with a BEng and PhD from Loughborough University and joined the staff in Water Sciences in 1997. He was subsequently appointed to the post of Senior Research Fellow in 2003 and the Senior Lecturer in 2006. Current posts include visiting positions at RMIT (Australia), University of New South Wales (Australia).


Current activities

Professor Jefferson's research interests involve understanding how the underlying process pathways can be better managed to deliver a paradigm shift in how we apply technology for sewage treatment and drinking water production. Current activities involve work on:
  • Resource recovery
  • Anaerobic sewage treatment
  • Low energy wastewater processes for nutrient removal
  • NOM, algae and micropollutant control in catchments and treatment
  • Advanced oxidation processes.

Clients

Professor Jefferson is currently working on a number of research council projects for NERC, EPSRC and EU on the fate of nanoparticles in sewage sludge, resource recovery and water services of the future. In addition currently undertaking research funded by a number of water related companies:  

  • Aco Drainage
  • Anglian Water 
  • Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
  • FOG Limited
  • Northumbrian Water 
  • Scottish Water 
  • Severn Trent Water 
  • Thames Water
  • United Utilities
  • USEPA
  • Wessex Water 
  • WRc
  • Yorkshire Water

Publications

Articles In Journals

Conference Papers

  • Kerry P (2019) Test Conf paper 1. In: 14th Stockholm Water Symposium, Stockholm, Sweden, 22 March 2005.
  • Bougeard C, Goslan EH, Jefferson B & Parsons SA (2007) Precursor identification of haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (THMs): A UK perspective. In: 233rd American Chemical Society National Meeting, Chicago, 25-29 March 2007.
  • Bridgeman J, Jefferson B & Parsons SA (2007) The development and use of CFD models for water treatment processes. In: 11th International Conference on Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering Computing, St Julian's, 18-21 September 2007.
  • Goslan EH, Jarvis P, Gurses F, Jefferson B & Parsons (2006) Transformation of natural organic matter by UV photolysis and advanced oxidation processes. In: 13th meeting of the International Humic Substances Society, Karlsruhe, Germany, 30 July 2006.
  • Jarvis P, Sharp E, Parsons SA & Jefferson B (2006) Engineering potable water flocs for purpose. In: AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference and Exhibition, Denver, 4 November 2006.
  • Jarvis P, Jefferson B, Sharp E & Parsons SA (2006) Floc formation of natural organic matter: the role of organic matter. In: 13th meeting of the International Humic Substances Society, Karlsruhe, Germany, 30 July 2006.
  • Mergen M, Jarvis P, Jefferson B & Parsons SA (2006) Impact of MIEX DOC resin pre-treatment on properties of coagulation flocs.. In: 2nd European Conference on filtration and separation, Compeigne, France, 12 October 2006.
  • Mergen M, Jarvis P, Jefferson B & Parsons DJ (2006) Impact of continuous MIEX use on downstream water treatment processes. In: AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference and Exhibition, Denver, 4 November 2006.
  • Boyd RD, Bargir S, Dunn S & Jefferson B (2006) The Relationship between nanoscale AFM adhesive force measurements using calcite crystals with macroscale contact angle and scaling characteristics. In: NSTI Nanotech 2006, Boston, MA, 7 May 2006.
  • Jefferson B & Parsons SA (2005) The effect of natural organic matter on the surface properties of flocculated suspensions in water treatment: characerisation and impact on downstream processes. In: Nano and Microparticles in Water and Wastewater Treatment, Zurich, Switzerland, 17 February 2005.
  • Jefferson B, Dunn SC, Impey SA, Kimpton CM & Parsons SA (2005) Use of surface diagnostics for struvite scale analysis. In: Proc. Conf. Struvite: Its Role in Phosphorous Recovery and Reuse, Cranfield, UK, 17 February 2005.
  • Judd SJ & Jefferson B (2005) Industrial water recycling: holy grail or wholly unjustified. In: Envirowater 2003, Albacete, 17 February 2005.
  • Jefferson B, Jarvis P & Parsons SA (2005) Methods for improving the structural properties of natural organic matter flocs. In: IWA Nano and Microparticle Conference , Seoul, South Korea, 1 June 2005.
  • Jefferson B, Nazareno C, Parsons SA & Judd SJ (2005) Membrane gas absorbers for H2S removal - technology evaluation and integration into existing odour treatment strategies. In: Odour 2, Cranfield, UK, 16 February 2005.
  • Jefferson B, Chang I & Judd SJ (2005) Physico-chemical characteristics of the biomass in membrane bioreactors used under different MLSS concentrations. In: IWA conference on Environmental Biotechnology, May 2003, Johor Bahru, Malaysia, 17 February 2005.
  • Parsons SA, Bedel C & Jefferson B (2005) Chemical vs. Biological treatment of Greywater. In: In Chemical Water and Wastewater Treatment VI, Berlin, 17 February 2005.
  • Parsons SA, Goslan EH, Jarvis P & Jefferson B (2005) NOM the relationship between character and treatability. In: 4th IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition, Marrakech, 30 March 2005.
  • Jefferson B, Jeffrey P & Judd SJ (2005) Grey water characterisation and its impact on the selection and operation of technologies for urban reuse. In: 4th International Symposium on on Watewater Reclamation and Reuse, November 2003, Mexico City, Mexico, 17 February 2005.
  • Jeffrey P & Jefferson B (2005) Identification and management of risk perception in participatory planning for water reuse. In: International conference on Integrated Concepts in Water Recycling, Wollongong, Australia, 17 February 2005.
  • Jeffrey P & Jefferson B (2005) Water resource management and participatory planning: A preliminary analysis of survey data on the perceptions, needs and requirements of different stakeholder groups. In: Presentation at the institute of Irrigation and Drainage 2004 Seminar, London, 18 February 2005.
  • Judd SJ, Cardin J, Goldsmith R & Jefferson B (2004) Use of ceramic membranes in airlift membrane bioreactors. In: 8th International Conference on Inorganic Membranes (ICIM8), July 2004, Cincinnati, 1 July 2004.
  • Jarvis P, Jefferson B & Parsons SA (2004) The use of diagnostic tools to determine the operational properties of organic flocs. In: AWWA Water Quality Technology Conference and Exhibition, Philadelphia, 2 November 2004.
  • Jefferson B, Judd SJ & Brookes A (2004) Sub-critical fouling in a membrane bioreactor: impact of flux and MLSS. In: IWA 4th World Water Congress, September 2004, Marrakech, 1 January 2004.
  • Judd SJ, Holdner J & Jefferson B (2004) Impact of membrane material on membrane bioreactor permeability. In: Water Environment - Membrane Technology, Seoul, Korea, 7 June 2004.
  • Jefferson B, Jarvis P & Parsons SA (2004) The effect of coagulant type on natural organic matter floc structure and strength. In: 11th International Gothenburg Symposium on Chemical Treatment of Water and Wastewater, Orlando, 8 November 2004.
  • Sharp EL, Parsons SA & Jefferson B (2004) The effects of changing NOM composition and characteristics on coagulation performance, optimisation and control. In: IWA NOM Research: Innovation and Applications for Drinking Water Treatment, 2004, Victor Harbor, Adelaide, 2-4 March 2004.
  • Jeffrey P & Jefferson B (2004) Participatory Water Reuse Planning: a conceptual model based on Social Learning and Personal Constructs. In: IWA World Water Congress, Marrakech, Morocco, 19 September 2004.
  • Jefferson B & Judd SJ (2003) Industrial water recycling: drivers, problems and economics. In: IMSTEC 2003, Sydney, Australia, 10 November 2003.
  • Jefferson B, Bedel C, Centeno C, Parsons SA, Murray C & Diaper C (2003) Photo-catalytic reactors for in building grey water reuse. In: 3rd Conference on Oxidation Technologies for Water and Wastewater treatment, Goslar, Germany, 18 May 2003.
  • Jefferson B, Judd SJ & alvaerez-vazquez H (2003) Industrial water recycling with membranes. In: 4th International Symposium on Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse, November 2003, Mexico City, Mexico, 12 November 2003.
  • Smith S, Judd SJ, Stephenson T & Jefferson B (2003) Membrane bioreactors - hybrid activated sludge or new process. In: 5th International Membrane Science and Technology Conference, Sydney, 10 November 2003.
  • Brookes A, Judd S, Reid E, Germain E, Smith S, Alvarez H, Le-Clech P, Stephenson T, Turra E & Jefferson B (2003) Characterisation and impact of biomass foulants in membrane bioreactors. In: 5th International Membrane Science and Technology Conference, Sydney, Australia, 10 November 2003.
  • Jefferson B, Judd SJ, Jeffrey P & Palmer A (2002) Reliability of biological processes for urban reuse of grey and black waters: Risk and Impact. In: IWA regional symposium on water recycling in Mediterranean region, Iraklio, 26 September 2002.
  • Laine A, Jefferson B & Judd SJ (2002) Technologies for grey to black water reuse: a practical and economic assessment. In: 3rd IWA World Water Congress, Melbourne, Australia, 7 April 2002.
  • Lodge B, Jefferson B, Judd SJ & Smith S (2002) Towards a more thorough understanding of MBR biology. In: ICOM 2002, Toulouse, France, 7 July 2002.
  • Jefferson B, Nazareno C, Parsons SA, Judd SJ & Stuetz R (2002) Membrane gas absorber for H2S removal - technology evaluation and integration into existing odour treatment strategies. In: Odors and Toxic Air Emissions, WEF, Alburquerque, USA, 28 April 2002.
  • Jefferson B, Judd SJ & Le Cleech P (2002) Determination and Implication for the relative effect of feed quality on fouling in submerged membrane bioreactor. In: 1st IWA Young Researchers Conference, Cranfield, UK, 1 September 2002.
  • Bigg T, Judd SJ & Jefferson B (2001) Kinetics of reductive degradation of azo dye by zero-valent iron in aqueous solution. In: 6th World Congress of Chemical Engineering, Melbourne, Australia, 23 October 2001.
  • Jefferson B, Judd SJ & Le Clech P (2001) The effect of membrane configuration on the performance and operation of membrane bioreactors in terms of critical flux. In: 6th World Congress on Chemical Engineering, Melbourne, Australia, 23 October 2001.
  • Lemon M, Jefferson B & Jeffrey P (2001) My land, my water, your problem: Coevolutionary processes and the development of appropriate water policy tools. In: Proc. 2nd Conference of the International Water History Association, University of Bergen, Norway, 9 March 2001.
  • Laine A, Jefferson B, Jeffrey P, Judd SJ & Stephenson T (2000) Water recycling from grey to black, the process engineering solution to the water resource problem. In: 2000 IChemE Research Event, Bath, UK, 1 January 2000.
  • Jefferson B, Laine A, Brindle K, Judd S & Stephenson T (1998) Towards a sewerless city. In: Water Environment 1998, Maintaining the flow, London, 26 March 1998.

Books