Lake Superior State University
Lake Superior State University
 
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Alum Success

Marci graduated from White Pines Collegiate and Vocational School in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and has been active during her time at LSSU in the Chemistry and Environmental Club, Investment Club, Pre-Professional Society, Honors Society, Alpha Chi Sorority, Learning Center, a member of the American Water Works Association and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and is a volunteer at Pathways Retirement Home. While at LSSU, she has worked at the Learning Center as a tutor and supplemental instructor, learning her advanced tutoring certification and winning the Margaret Hagg Memorial Scholarship. She was a recipient of the Ontario Honors Scholarship for four years. Marci completed her senior research by standardizing a method to fluorescently detect pharmaceuticals and personal care products in drinking water. This study helped to prepare her for her graduate studies at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi to conduct biodiesel research with Dr. Paul Zimba. She will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Chemistry and Chemistry, magna cum laude, with minors in Economics and Mathematics, graduating as part of the Honors Society.

Marci Leanee Savage
2010 Outstanding Graduate
Environmental Chemistry

College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences

School of Physical Sciences

Graduate Survey

Have you completed our survey? All graduates from programs under the School of Physical Sciences are asked to complete the survey: once at graduation and again anytime you have a change in education or employment.

Derek Wright

Dr. Derek D. Wright
Chair
Assistant Professor
Office: CRW 315
Phone: (906) 635-2628
Fax: (906) 635-2266

Faculty

Alyssa Bancroft
Instructor

Andrea Munoz-Hernandez
Assistant Professor

Christopher Heth
Assistant Professor

Dr. Alexei V. Iretski
Associate Professor

Adam Mosey
Assistant Professor

Dr. Paul R. Kelso
Professor

Dr. Matthew K. Spencer
Assistant Professor

Dr. R. Marshall Werner
Profesor

Instructors and Staff

Dr. Roger Blanchard
Instructor

Dr. Barbara Keller
Professor

Chuck McCread
Instructor

David Myton
Associate Provost

Thu Nguyen
Assistant Professor

Ashley Smith

Mr. Ben Southwell
Instrumentation Chemist

Mission & Vision

We offer the ONLY accredited undergraduate environmental health program in Michigan!

Unlike larger universities, we offer a small, active, hands-on learning experience for our students where they work directly with the faculty members in the department.  Depending upon your interests, several program options are available to students who are contemplating a career in the environmental sciences.

Earn your ACS certified degree!

ACS LogoThe American Chemical Society (ACS) has approved LSSU's Chemistry Program. You can now earn an ACS certified degree.  Contact the School Chair, Dr. Werner, for more details.

Department of Chemistry

The chemistry department at Lake Superior State University provides a great environment in which to work and learn with others.  Our faculty are ready to work with you to achieve your academic and professional goals.  Our state-of-the-art chemical instrumentation is here for you to use, preparing the hands-on experiences needed to help you be a valuable and valued member of our profession after graduation. 

Department of Environmental Science

More information to come.

Department of Geology

Lake Superior State University provides an excellent opportunity to study geology. Located on the edge of the Canadian Shield and Michigan Basin, we offer a highly innovative, project-centered curriculum that was developed with the financial support of the National Science Foundation. Our classes and field courses emphasize learning through active participation and hands-on experience. The small size of our department fosters a close, personal relationship among students and between students and faculty. Our very active Geology Club organizes regular social activities and local field trips. Students also have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on research in geomagnetics and micropaleontology.

Environmental Health

More information to come.

Environmental Analysis Lab

The department of chemistry operates a full compliment of analytical chemical instrumentation.  Our undergraduate students use these instruments in both in their laboratory experiences and to support their senior research projects. Learn more... To inquire about contact based services, click here.

Partial List of Equipment:

  • Anasazi FT-NMR 
  • Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICPMS)
  • Cleanroom - dedicated to support trace elemental analysis using ICMPS
  • Purge and Trap GCMS
  • Microwave Digester
  • Gas Chromatographs (FID)
  • High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Academic Programs (Degrees/Certificates and Majors)

Baccalaureate

Minors

Associate

  • Chemistry

Associate of Applied Science

  • Chemical Technology

 

Alternative Management of Anaerobic Landfill Bioreactors for Improved Energy Potential

Josh Kuzimski

Converting municipal solid waste to usable energy is an emergent and growing method for modern waste management. Through microbial facilitation of methanogenesis, methane gas can be extracted from landfill bioreactors to yield a significant amount of usable energy. The hypothesis was that a sufficient addition of sodium acetate to a controlled bioreactor environment would promote larger growth of methanogenic microbes and subsequently promote a greater amount of methane relative to a control (Madigan et al, 2003). In order to simulate an anaerobic bioreactor environment, the method for the study took place in modular sections to cover the design, construction and operation of laboratory scale bioreactors. Upon completion of bioreactor engineering, the biological and chemical components were scrutinized to match ideal conditions of a landfill. Methanosarcina was the chosen genus of the methanogen family to seed the bioreactors, and a total elemental analysis of the waste source was analyzed to approximate methane yield. Over 557 hours, each bioreactor produced approximately 1.3 liters of biogas with less than 1% containing methane. Given analysis through gas chromatography, the bioreactors may have had stunted methane production do to presence of argon gas in the headspace and/or low C/N ratio of the waste. The presence of argon should have been replaced with nitrogen, and the waste source should have contained more carbon per nitrogen. The generation-3 design of constructed bioreactors was successful in containing all gasses, liquids, and solids internally, however did not produce enough methane biogas to accept or reject the hypothesis.

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