Articles Published in Peer-Reviewed Journals
*Fernandez Pulido, C.R.; **Femeena, P. V.; and Brennan, R. A. (2024) “Nutrient cycling with duckweed for the fertilization of root, fruit, leaf, and grain crops: impacts to plant-soil-leachate systems.” Agriculture, 14(2): 188. DOI: 10.3390/agriculture14020188.
**Femeena, P. V. and Brennan, R. A. (2024) “Lemnaceae as a resilient crop to improve food security under climate extremes: global warming and post-catastrophic cooling scenarios.” In review.
Connolly-Ahern, C.; Ahern, L.; Brennan, R. A.; Shea, M. E.; Bingaman, R. B.; Kempton, S. D.; Diddi, P. (2024) “Pond to table? Distance and framing effects on consumer acceptance of wastewater re-use.” In review.
Anderson, C. T.; Behring, D.; Brennan, R. A.; Connolly, E. L.; Di Gioia, F.; Jacobson, M.; Jaenicke, E.; Kemanian, A. R.; Lambert, J.; Lasky, J. R.; Pearce, J. M.; Pecchia, J.; Ransom, E.; Wrenn, D.; Denkenberger, D. (2024) “Opinion: Food resilience strategies are needed to face disasters, pandemics, cataclysmic conflicts, and global catastrophes.” In review.
Yan, R.; *Roman, B.; Brennan, R. A.; Kovac, J. (2024) “Links between microbiomes and microbiologial water safety in a pilot-scale Eco-Machine.” In preparation.
**Femeena, P. V.; Costello, C.; and Brennan, R. A. (2023) “Spatial optimization of nutrient recovery from dairy farms to support economically viable load reductions in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.” Agricultural Systems, 207: 103640. DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2023.103640.
**Femeena, P. V.; *Roman, B.; and Brennan, R. A. (2023) “Maximizing duckweed biomass production for food security at low light intensities: experimental results and an enhanced predictive model.” Environmental Challenges, 11: 100709. DOI: 10.1016/j.envc.2023.100709.
**Femeena, P. V.; *House, G. R.; and Brennan, R. A. (2022) “Creating a circular nitrogen bioeconomy in agricultural systems through nutrient recovery and upcycling by microalgae and duckweed: past efforts and future trends.” Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Special Collection: Circular Food and Agricultural Systems, 65 (2): 327-346. DOI: 10.13031/ja.14891. Recipient of 2023 ASABE Superior Paper Award.
*Calicioglu, O.; Sengul, M. Y.; **Femeena, P. V.; and Brennan, R. A. (2021) “Duckweed growth model for large-scale applications: optimizing harvesting regime and intrinsic growth rate via machine learning to maximize biomass yields.” Journal of Cleaner Production, 324, 15: 129120. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129120.
*Lin, Y; *Grembi, J. A.; ‡Goots, S. S.; Sebastian, A.; Albert, I.; and Brennan, R. A. (2021) “Development and adaptability of microbial communities in pilot-scale field reactors treating acid mine drainage amended with crab shell.” Journal of Hazardous Materials, 420: 126665. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126665.
*Calicioglu, O.; Femeena, P. V.; Mutel, C.; Sills, D. L.; Richard, T. L.; and Brennan, R. A. (2021) “Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment of an integrated wastewater-derived duckweed pond and biorefinery.” ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 9: 9395 – 9408. DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c02539.
Harvey, R. J; Davis, D. D.; Savani, B.; Brennan, R. A.; and Pecchia, J. A. (2021) “Nitrate removal in greenhouse water using mushroom compost within artificially constructed wetlands.” Journal of Plant Science and Research, 8 (2): 210.
*Fernandez Pulido, C.; ‡Caballero, J. J.; Bruns, M. A.; and Brennan, R. A. (2021) “Recovery of waste nutrients by duckweed for reuse in sustainable agriculture: second-year results of a field pilot study with sorghum.” Ecological Engineering, 168: 106273. DOI: 101.1016/j.ecoleng.2021.106273.
‡Arenas, M. A.; **Femeena, P. V.; and Brennan, R. A. (2021) “The Water-Energy-Food Nexus Discovery Map: linking geographic information systems, academic collaboration, and large-scale data visualization.” Sustainability, 13: 5220. DOI: 10.3390/su13095220.
*Roman, B., and Brennan, R. A. (2021) “Life cycle assessment of an Eco-Machine indicates beneficial environmental impacts for upcycling wastewater nutrients into protein-rich duckweed.” Journal of Environmental Management, 288: 112361. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112361.
*Roman, B.; Brennan, R. A.; and Lambert, J. D. (2021) “Duckweed protein supports the growth and organ development of mice: a feeding study comparison to conventional casein protein.” Journal of Food Science, 86 (3): 1097-1104. DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.15635.
*Lin, Y.; *Newcombe, C. E.; and Brennan, R. A. (2020) “Crab shell amendments enhance the abundance and diversity of key microbial groups in sulfate-reducing columns treating acid mine drainage.” Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 104(19): 8505-8516. DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10833-3.
*Calicioglu, A. O.; Richard, T. L.; and Brennan, R. A. (2019) “Anaerobic bioprocessing of wastewater-derived duckweed: maximizing product yields in a biorefinery value cascade.” Bioresource Technology, 289: 121716.
*Roman, B., and Brennan, R. A. (2019) “A beneficial by-product of ecological wastewater treatment: an evaluation of wastewater-grown duckweed as a protein supplement for sustainable agriculture.” Ecological Engineering X, 1: 100004.
*Shreve, M. J., and Brennan, R. A. (2019) “Trace organic contaminant removal in six full-scale integrated fixed film activated sludge (IFAS) systems treating municipal wastewater.” Water Research,151: 318-331.
*Kreider, A. N.; *Fernandez Pulido, C.; Bruns, M. A.; and Brennan, R. A. (2019) “Duckweed as an agricultural amendment: nitrogen mineralization, leaching, and sorghum uptake.” Journal of Environmental Quality, 48 (2): 469-475.
*Calicioglu, A. O.; *Shreve, M. J.; Richard, T. L.; and Brennan, R. A. (2018) “Effect of pH and temperature on microbial community structure and carboxylic acid yield during the acidogenic digestion of duckweed.” Biotechnology for Biofuels, 11:275.
*Calicioglu, A. O., and Brennan, R. A. (2018) “Sequential ethanol fermentation and anaerobic digestion increases bioenergy yields from duckweed.” Bioresource Technology, 257: 344-348.
*Shreve, M. J.; Brockman, A.; *Hartleb, M.; Prebihalo, S.; Dorman, F. L.; and Brennan, R. A. (2016) “The white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor reduces the estrogenic activity of a mixture of emerging contaminants in wastewater treatment plant effluent.” International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 109: 132-140.
Brennan, R. A. (2016) “A new program in sustainable engineering: a platform for integrating research and service into the classroom through global engagement.” In W. Leal Filho and S. Nesbit (eds.), New Developments in Engineering Education for Sustainable Development, World Sustainability Series, Springer International Publishing, DOI 10.1007/978-319-32933-8_2.
*Grembi, J.A.; ‡Sick, B.A.; and Brennan, R. A. (2016) “Remediation of high-strength mine impacted water with mixed organic substrates containing crab shell and spent mushroom compost.” Journal of Environmental Engineering,142 (2): 04015075.
*Kelsey, D.J.; Nieto-Delgado, C.; Cannon, F.S.; and Brennan, R. A. (2015) “Organic neem compounds inhibit soft-rot growth and improve the strength of anthracite bricks bound with collagen and lignin for use in iron foundry cupolas.” Journal of Applied Microbiology, 119: 65 – 75.
*McElhoe, J., and Brennan, R. A. (2012) “Effects of chitin purity and proppant loading on the bioremediation of chlorothenes.” Journal of Environmental Engineering, 138 (8): 862 – 872.
*Robinson-Lora, M.A., and Brennan, R. A. (2011) “Anaerobic precipitation of manganese and co-existing metals in mine impacted water treated with crab shell-associated minerals.” Applied Geochemistry, 26: 853 – 862.
*Robinson-Lora, M.A., and Brennan, R. A. (2010) “Biosorption of manganese onto chitin and associated proteins during the treatment of mine impacted water.” Chemical Engineering Journal, 162: 565 – 572.
*Newcombe, C. E., and Brennan, R. A. (2010) “Improved passive treatment of acid mine drainage in mushroom compost amended with crab-shell chitin.” Journal of Environmental Engineering, 136 (6): 616 – 626.
*Cai, H.,*Eramo, A. G., Evans, P. J., Fricke, R., and Brennan, R. A. (2010) “In situ bioremediation of perchlorate in vadose zone soil using gaseous electron donors: microcosm treatability study.” Water Environment Research, 82 (5): 409 – 417.
*Robinson-Lora, M. A., and Brennan, R. A. (2010) “Chitin complex for the remediation of mine impacted water: geochemistry of metal removal and comparison with other common substrates.” Applied Geochemistry, 25 (3): 336 – 344.
*Robinson-Lora, M. A., and Brennan, R. A. (2009) “Efficient metal removal and neutralization of acid mine drainage by crab-shell chitin under batch and continuous-flow conditions.” Bioresource Technology, 100 (21): 5063 – 5071.
*Robinson Lora, M. A., and Brennan, R. A. (2009) “The use of crab-shell chitin for biological denitrification: batch and column tests.” Bioresource Technology, 100 (2): 534 – 541.
‡Daubert, L. N., and Brennan, R. A. (2007) “Passive remediation of acid mine drainage using crab shell chitin.” Environmental Engineering Science, 24 (10): 1475 – 1480.
*Rezaei, F., Richard, T. L., Brennan, R. A., and Logan, B. E. (2007) “Substrate-enhanced microbial fuel cells for improved remote power generation from sediment-based systems.” Environmental Science & Technology, 41 (11): 4053-4058.
Brennan, R. A., Sanford, R. A., and Werth, C. J. (2006) “Biodegradation of tetrachloroethene by chitin fermentation products in a continuous flow column system.” Journal of Environmental Engineering, 132 (6): 664 – 673.
Brennan, R. A., Sanford, R. A., and Werth, C. J. (2006) “Chitin and corncobs as electron donor sources for the reductive dechlorination of tetrachloroethene.” Water Research, 40 (11): 2125 – 2134.
Prior to Penn State:
Brennan, R. A., and Sanford, R. A. (2002) “A continuous steady-state method for delivering tetrachloroethene (PCE) to chlororespiring bacteria using Tenax.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 68 (3): 1464-1467.
Edwards, F. G., Egemen, E., Brennan, R., and Nirmalakhandan, N. (1999) “Ranking of toxics release inventory chemicals using a level III fugacity model and toxicity.” Water Science & Technology. 39 (10): 83 – 90.
Egemen, E., Corpening, J., Padilla, J., Brennan, R., and Nirmalakhandan, N. (1999) “Evaluation of ozonation and cryptic growth for biosolids management in wastewater treatment.” Water Science & Technology. 39 (10): 155-158.
Brennan, R. A., Nirmalakhandan, N., and Speece, R. E. (1998) “Comparison of predictive methods for Henrys law coefficients of organic chemicals.” Water Research, 32 (6): 1901-1911.
Nirmalakhandan, N., Brennan, R. A., and Speece, R. E. (1997) “Predicting Henrys constant and the effect of temperature on Henrys constant.” Water Research, 31 (6): 1471 – 1481.
Nirmalakhandan, N., Xu, S., Trevizo, C., and Brennan, R. (1997) “Additivity in microbial toxicity of non-uniform mixtures of organic chemicals.” Exotoxicology & Environmental Safety, 37 (1): 97 – 102.
‡Undergraduate student supervised by Dr. Brennan
*Graduate student supervised by Dr. Brennan
**Post-doctoral Researcher/Assistant Research Professor supervised by Dr. Brennan