Pedro Tarafa

Ext . 3454

Email: pedro.tarafa@upr.edu

Oficina: CI-205  

PhD in Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, 2010

MS in Civil Engineering (Environmental), University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 1999

BS in Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, 1997  

• Univ. P. Rico-Mayaguez, Associate Professor,  2016 – present (full time)
• Univ. P. Rico-Mayaguez, Assistant Professor,  2012 – 2016 (full time)
• Univ. P. Rico-Mayaguez, Assistant Professor,  2010 – 2012 (non-tenure track position)
• Univ. S. Carolina, Research and Teaching Assistant,  2006 – 2010 (full time)

• Pfizer Pharmaceuticals LLC,  Process Engineer II / Material Specialist, 2002–05 (full time)
• Lilly del Caribe, Inc., Environmental Technical Services Engineer, 1999–2001 (full time)

• Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship
• NSF- South Eastern Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate Fellowship
• Honeywell Fellowship
• Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company Fellowship

• Saffar A, Tarafa PJ, Suarez OM, Rivera-Santos J. Hybrid multimedia-filter prototype for the degradation of trihalomethanes precursors and pathogens control from raw waters. MS Thesis, UPRM (2018)
• Aviles A, Hernandez C, Ambrose J, Suarez OM, Tarafa PJ. Degradation of atrazine with titanium dioxide immobilised in compact recycled glass. J. Environ. Eng. Sci. 12 (2017)
• Tarafa PJ, Arias S, Colon V, Perez J., Suarez OM. Immobilization of TiO₂ nanoparticles on sintered, crushed glass for the degradation of humic acid. 15^th LACCEI International Multi-Conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2017).
• Arias S, Tarafa PJ, Suarez OM, Hwang S. Evaluation of Different Immobilization Techniques of TiO₂ Particles in Sintered Glass Substrate (SGS) for the Degradation of Humic Acid Solutions. MS Thesis, UPRM (2017).
• Aviles A, Tarafa PJ, Suarez OM, Hwang S. Immobilization of titanium dioxide in crushed recycled glass for atrazine photo-degradation. MS Thesis, UPRM (2016)
• Matthews MA and Tarafa PJ, Removal of bacterial endotoxins, US Patent US9296981B2, filed August 3, 2010, and issued March 29, 2016.
• Rodriguez JM, Tarafa PJ, Papadopoulos C, Hwang S. Treatability study of an intermittent biosand filter for reduction of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus.MS Thesis, UPRM (2015).
• Rodriguez JM, Hernandez B, Tarafa PJ, Papadopoulos C, Hwang S. Development of a procedure and apparatus to quantify pathogen reduction throughout an intermittent biosand filter. 7^th Intern. Perspective on Water Resources & the Envir. Proc. (2014).

• Pollution Prevention and Best Management Practices for Municipal Stormwater Discharges in Accordance to the EPA General Permit for MS4. Cataño, PR., Aug 2018.
• Illegal Discharge Detection and Elimination for MS4. Seminar given at the PR Board of Engineers and Surveyors, Mayaguez Chapter. Aug 2018.
• Operation and Maintenance of MS4 and Detection of Illegal Discharges. Seminar given at the PR Board of Engineers and Surveyors, Ponce Chapter. Mar 2018.
• Modification of TiO₂ nanoparticles with iron ions for effective photoactivation under visible light. IX Simposyum of Energy and Environment, Caguas, PR, Feb 2018.
• Hybrid multimedia-filter prototype (HMP) for the degradation of organic matter and pathogens control from raw waters. IX Simposyum of Energy and Environment,  Caguas, PR, Feb 2018.
• Portable sand filter: An alternative to treat water at home. Water Treatment and Sanitation Workshop. UPR-Medical Sciences Campus, Rio Piedras, PR. Nov 2017
• Effect of dissolved oxygen and microbial activity mechanisms on Escherichia coli and Enterococcus reduction through an intermittent biosand filter. 10^th Chemical Engineering World Congress, Barcelona, Spain. Oct 2017.
• Fe(III)-Doped TiO₂ Nanoparticles Photoactivated Under Visible Light, Research Experience for Undergraduates in Reconfigurable & Multifunctional Soft Materials Poster Session. UPR-Mayagüez. Aug 2017.
• A Study of Various TiO₂ Doping Methods with Fe (III) for Use in the Photocatalytic Degradation of Atrazine. Presented at the Research Experience for Undergraduates in Reconfigurable & Multifunctional Soft Materials Poster Session. UPRM, Aug 2017.
• Pollution prevention and best management practices for stormwater discharges. Seminar given at the PR Board of Engineers and Surveyors, Hato Rey, PR. Jun 2017
• Degradation of atrazine with TiO₂ nanoparticles immobilized in crushed recycled glass. Ines Maria Mendoza High School, Cabo Rojo, PR. Nov 2016.
• Increased beach monitoring for fecal indicator bacteria in Rincón and Añasco,Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CariCOOS), Apr 2016.
• Micro- and nanosized titanium dioxide particles immobilized in sintered recycled glass for the degradation of trihalomethane precursors from surface waters, 2^nd Conference on Water Resource Sustainability Issues on Tropical Islands, Honolulu, HI, Dec 2015.
• Sintered recycled glass functionalized with micro- and nanosized TiO₂ particles for the degradation of THM precursors from waters. PRWEA Annual Conference, Oct 2015.