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Ernest R. Blatchley III, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, F.ASCE

Lee A. Rieth Professor in Environmental Engineering, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering and the School of Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering

Purdue University
Lyles School of Civil Engineering
550 Stadium Mall Drive
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2051

Office: HAMP 2129
Phone: (765) 494-0316
Email: blatch@purdue.edu
CV: Curriculum Vitae

Websites

Specialty Area(s)

Education
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1988
M.S., University of California, Berkeley, 1983
B.S., Purdue University, 1981

Licenses, Registrations, and Certifications

  • Professional Engineer, State of Indiana
  • Board Certified Environmental Engineer, American Academy of Environmental Engineers

Research Interests
Physico/chemical processes of environmental engineering. Current research foci include disinfection processes for water and wastewater, UV-based advanced oxidation/reduction processes, swimming pool chemistry, UV disinfection of air and surfaces, water supply in developing countries.

Selected Research Projects

  • Stochastic Approach to Design and Validation of UV Disinfection Systems
  • Monitoring and Control of Gas-Phase NCl3 in Indoor Swimming Facilities
  • Photocatalytic Air Purification for HVAC Systems
  • Performance Testing of UV-Based Portable Room Air Purifier
  • Standardization of UVGI System Dynamics Based on Far UVC Sources
  • Performance Testing of UV-Reflective Films to Promote Air Disinfection

Teaching Activity

  • CCE/SEE 350: Introduction to Environmental & Ecological Engineering - Basic principles of environmental engineering are presented, including fundamental tools used to examine environmental systems and solve environmental problems (e.g., material balances, environmental chemistry, elemental cycles). Common environmental applications are presented, including treatment of municipal wastewater, potable water production, air pollution, global air pollution problems (i.e., stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change) and management of solid and hazardous wastes. We also examine approaches that have promise for allowing sustainable, long-term use of available resources, as well as contemporary and emerging environmental issues.
  • CCE/SEE 550: Physico/Chemical Processes of Environmental Engineering - Students in this class learn fundamental principles of physico/chemical processes that are commonly used by Environmental Engineers. Examples are presented from many applications, but the emphasis is on water treatment. The principles that are taught in this class have broad application in Environmental Engineering, and in other disciplines. As such, the focus is on fundamental concepts, so as to prompt their application in a wide range of settings, encourage questions and discussion, and to promote creativity. This class is taught online as part of the Affordable MS Program within the Lyles School of Civil & Construction Engineering.
  • CCE 597 (co-listed as BIOL 595, SEE 595, NUR 599): Water Supply in Developing Countries - This is a student-led, interdisciplinary, service-learning class in which students work with faculty and community members to design, build, and implement community-scale water treatment systems for impoverished communities in the Dominican Republic. Students work with community leaders from the target communities in the DR to develop system designs to address community needs for water. The class is conducted in a holistic manner, such that issues related to public health education, business development, and community engagement are addressed.
  • CCE 650: Photochemical Reactors: Theory, Methods, and Applications of Ultraviolet Radiation - This class is derived from the book by Professor Blatchley with the same title. The course provides comprehensive coverage of topics that define and govern the behavior of photochemical reactors, including fundamental principles of photochemistry and photochemical reactors, sources of UV radiation, numerical and empirical methods for characterization of photochemical reactor dynamics, and summaries of common applications. This class is also available through the online MS Program within the Lyles School of Civil & Construction Engineering.

Honors & Awards

  • EPA Training Fellowship, University of California, Berkeley, 1982-1983
  • Chi Epsilon, 1994 - present
  • Harold Munson Outstanding Teacher Award, School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, 1997
  • Roy E. and Myrna G. Wansik Research Leadership Award, School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, 1998
  • William Edgar Award for Pioneering Research in Disinfection, Water Environment Federation, 2005
  • Diplomate Environmental Engineer (DEE) (aka, Board Certified Environmental Engineer, BCEE), American Academy of Environmental Engineers, by Eminence in the Specialty of Water Supply and Wastewater, 2006-
  • Sigma Xi, 2007 - present
  • Aquatics International 2008 “Power 25” - Annual list of the 25 most influential aquatics professionals (see https://www.aquaticsintl.com/facilities/the-power-25_o)
  • Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers, 2014 - present
  • Engagement and Service Award, Purdue University, College of Engineering, 2016. Awarded for leadership in development of interdisciplinary service-learning class entitled “Water Supply in Developing Countries.” The class designs, builds, and implements holistic, community-scale water treatment systems for impoverished communities in developing countries.
  • Corps of Engagement Award (with Alex Delworth, Rachel Gehr, Rebecca Johnson, Allison Koeppen, Vicki Simpson), Purdue University Office of Engagement, 2020.
  • SEEE Instructional Excellence Award, Division of Environmental & Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, 2021.
  • Book of Great Teachers, Purdue University, 2023.
  • Most Impactful Journal Article Award, International Ultraviolet Association, 2025.
  • Roy E. and Myrna G. Wansik Teaching Award, Lyles School of Civil & Construction Engineering, Purdue University, 2025.

Selected Publications

  1. Hu, Y.; Yang, Q.; Guo, Y.; Xu, J.; Zhou, W.; Li, J.; Blatchley III, E.R. (2020) "Volatile organic chloramines formation during ClO2 treatment," Journal of Environmental Sciences, 92, 256-263.
  2. Chen, M. and Blatchley III, E.R. (2020) "Chlorine/UV treatment of anatoxin-a by activation of the secondary amine functional group," Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 6, 1412-1420.
  3. Yang, Q.; Guo, Y.; E, Y.; Zhang, S.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Li, J. (2020) "Methyl chloride produced during UV254 irradiation of saline water," Journal of Hazardous Materials, 384, 121263 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121263).
  4. Yin, R.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Shang, C. (2020) "UV photolysis of mono- and dichloramine using UV-LEDs as radiation sources: Photodecay rates and radical concentrations," Environmental Science & Technology, 54, 13, 8420-8429.
  5. Sun, Z.; Fu, J.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Zhou, Z. (2020) "Using Algal Virus Paramecium bursaria Chlorella Virus as a Human Adenovirus Surrogate for Validation of UV Treatment Systems," Environmental Science & Technology, 54, 23, 15507-15515.
  6. Yang, Q.; Guo, Y.; Xu, J.; Wu, X.; He, B.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Li, J. (2021) "Photolysis of N-chlorourea and its effect on urea removal in a combined pre-chlorination and UV254 process," Journal of Hazardous Materials, 411, 125111.
  7. Sun, Q.; Wu, S.; Yin, R.; Bai, X.; Bhunia, A.K.; Liu, C.; Zheng, Y.; Wang, F.; Blatchley III, E.R. (2021) "Effects of fulvic acid size on microcystin-LR photodegradation and detoxification in the chlorine/UV process," Water Research, 193, 116893.
  8. Blatchley III, E.R.; Petri, B.; Sun, W. (2021) "SARS-CoV-2 UV Dose-Response Behavior," Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 126:126018, https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.126.018.
  9. Wu, T.; Foldes, T.; Lee, L.T.; Wagner, D.N.; Jiang, J.; Tasoglou, A.; Boor, B.E.; Blatchley III, E.R. (2021) "Real-Time Measurements of Gas-Phase Trichloramine (NCl3) in an Indoor Aquatic Center," Environmental Science & Technology, 55, 8097-8107.
  10. Tow, E.W.; Hartman, A.L.; Jaworowski, A.; Zucker, I.; Kum, S.; Azadi Aghdam, M.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Achilli, A.; Gu, H.; Urper, G.M.; Warsinger, D.M. (2021) "Modeling the energy consumption of potable water reuse schemes," Water Research X, 13, 100126.
  11. Hawes, J.K.; Johnson, R.; Payne, L.; Ley, C.; Grady, C.A.; Domenech, J.; Evich, C.D.; Kanach, A.; Koeppen, A.; Roe, K.; Caprio, A.; Puente-Castro, J.; LeMaster, P. Blatchley, E.R. (2021) "Global Service-Learning: A Systematic Review of Principles and Practices," International Journal of Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement, 9(1), Article 11, https://doi.org/10.37333/001c.31383.
  12. Lee, L.T.; Blatchley III, E.R. (2022) "Long-Term Monitoring of Water and Air Quality at an Indoor Pool Facility During Modifications of Water Treatment," Water, 14, 3, 335, https://doi.org/10.3390/w14030335.
  13. Purwar, T.; Esquivel Puentes, H.A.; Pulletikurthi, V.; Li, X.; Doosttalab, A.; Nelson, C.E.; Appiah, R.E.; Blatchley, E.R.; Castano, V.; Castillo, L. (2022) "Novel sustainable filter for virus filtration and inactivation," Scientific Reports, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13316-9.
  14. Blatchley III, E.R.; Brenner, D.J.; Claus, H.; Cowan, T.E.; Linden, K.G.; Liu, Y.; Park, S.J.; Piper, P.J.; Simons, R.M.; Sliney, D.H. (2022) "Far UV-C radiation: An emerging tool for pandemic control," Critical Reviews in Environmental Science & Technology, https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2022.2084315.
  15. Schuit, M.A.; Larason, T.C.; Krause, M.L.; Green, B.M.; Holland, B.P.; Wood, S.P.; Grantham, S.; Zong, Y.; Zarobila, C.J.; Freeburger, D.L.; Miller, D.M.; Bohannon, J.K.; Ratnesar-Shumate, S.A.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Li, X.; Dabisch, P.A.; Miller, C.C. (2022) "SARS-CoV-2 inactivation by ultraviolet radiation and visible light is dependent on wavelength and sample matrix," Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology, B: Biology, 233, 112503.
  16. Busse, M.M.; Hawes, J.K.; Blatchley III, E.R. (2022) “Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Water Disinfection Processes Applicable in Low-Income Settings,” Environmental Science & Technology, 56, 16336-16346.
  17. Lee, L.T.; Wu, T.; Boor, B.E.; Blatchley III, E.R. (2023) “Dynamic Behavior of Gas-Phase NCl3 and CO2 in Indoor Pool Facilities,” Building and Environment, 233, 110088.
  18. Zhao, J.; Payne, E.M.; Liu, B.; Shang, C.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Mitch, W.A.; Yin, R. (2023) “Making Waves: Opportunities and Challenges of Applying Far-UVC Radiation in Controlling Micropollutants in Water,” Water Research, 241, 120169 (Most Impactful Journal Article Award, International Ultraviolet Association, 2025).
  19. Sangwan, N.; Ahmed, Y.M.; Blatchley III, E.R. (2023) “Dose Distribution Scaling and Validation of Ultraviolet Photoreactors Using Dimensional Analysis,” Environmental Science & Technology, 57, 16707-16717.
  20. Blatchley III, E.R.; Cui, H. (2023) “Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment for Quantification of the Effects of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation on COVID-19 Transmission,” Environmental Science & Technology, 57, 45, 17393–17403.
  21. Li, X.; Blatchley III, E.R. (2023) “Validation of In-Room UV-C-Based Air Cleaners,” Indoor Air, Article ID 5510449.
  22. Arvelo, I.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Bahnfleth, W.P.; Arnold, P.; Fry, A.; Topete, M.; Zhou, L.; Palmer, W.; Piper, P.J.; Zhang, J.; Dexter, W.A.; Palma, N.; Heredia, N.J. (2024) “Investigation of a DNA tagged aerosol tracer method for In Situ evaluation of germicidal UV air cleaner effectiveness,” Building and Environment, 262, 111828.
  23. Anandan, S.; Fix, A.J.; Freeman, A.J.; Miller, L.; Scheg, D.P.; Morgan, X.; Park, J.H.; Horton, W.T.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Warsinger, D.W. (2024) “Framework for assessing collection-based photocatalytic oxidation systems in HVAC applications for bioaerosol control,” Building and Environment, 261, 111593.
  24. Onada, Y.; Nagahashi, M.; Yamashita, M.; Fukushima, S.; Aizawa, T.; Yamauchi, S.; Fujikawa, Y. Tanaka, T,; Kadomura-Ishikawa, Y.; Ishida, K.; Uebanso, T.; Mawatari, K.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Takahashi, A. (2024) “Accumulated melanin in molds provides wavelength-dependent UV tolerance,” Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 23, 1791-1806.
  25. Bowers, C.A.; Randall, J.A.; Jones, C.; Prast, E.; Li, X.; Mosca, D.A.; Rasansky, R.; Linden, K.G.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Ducoste, J. (2025) “Experimental Observation and Simulation of UV-C based personal-scale reactors for airborne pathogen disinfection,” Environmental Science & Technology: Engineering, 5, 4, 1054-1067.
  26. Sun, Z.; Li, M.; Wu, Z.; Wang, Y.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Xie, T.; Qiang, Z. (2025) “Water Disinfection with Dual-Wavelength (222 + 275 nm) Ultraviolet Radiations: Microbial Inactivation and Reactivation,” Environmental Science & Technology, 59, 2, 1448-1456.
  27. Li, M.; Zheng, Y.; Huang, Y.; Li, J.-Y.; Sun, Z.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Qiang, Zhimin (2025) “Calcium scaling on the quartz sleeve of ultraviolet reactor: On-line measurement and model prediction,” Water Research, 275, 123203.
  28. Mawatari, K.; Kadomura-Ishikawa, Y.; Emoto, T.; Onoda, Y.; Ishida, K.; Toda, S.; Uebanso, T.; Toshihiko, T.; Shigeharu Yamauchi, A.; Fujikawa, Y.; Tanaka, T.; Li, X.; Suarez-Lopez, E.; Kuhn, R.J.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Takahashi, A. (2025) “Viral Inactivation by Light-Emitting Diodes: Action Spectra Reveal Genomic Damage as the Primary Mechanism,” Viruses, 17, 8, 1065, https://doi.org/10.3390/v17081065.
  29. Zheng, Z.; Li, M.; Wang, J.; Sun, Z.; Li, W.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Qiang, Z. (2025) “Real-Time Monitoring of Dose Distribution and Simplified Indicators of Ultraviolet Reactors with a Buckingham-π Theorem-Based Dual MFSD System,” Environmental Science & Technology, 59, 45, 24587-24595.
  30. Mawatari, K.; Onoda, Y.; Kadomura-Ishikawa, Y.; Emoto, T.; Yamaguchi, M.; Hirano, N.; Toda S.; Matsubara, M.; Uebanso, T.; Aizawa, T.; Yamauchi, S.; Fujikawa, Y.; Tanaka, T.; Li, X.; Suarez-Lopez, E.; Kuhn, R.J.; Blatchley III, E.R.; Takahashi, A. (2025) “Evaluation and Comparison of the UV-LED Action Spectra for Photochemical Disinfection of Coliphages and Human Pathogenic Viruses,” Microorganisms, 13, 12, 2798, https://doi.org/10.3390/. 

Books and Monographs
Ernest R. Blatchley III (2022) Photochemical Reactors: Theory, Methods, and Applications of Ultraviolet Radiation, Wiley. – Comprehensive coverage of fundamental principles that govern the dynamic behavior of photochemical reactors, experimental and numerical methods for analysis and design of these systems, and common practical applications of ultraviolet photoreactors.

Inventions and Patents

  • Apparatus for Improving UV Dosage Applied to Fluids in Open Channel UV Disinfection Systems, Ernest R. Blatchley III, Kuang-Ping Chiu, E. Ronald Magee, James M. Kallio, Zdravka Do-Quang, Dennis A. Lyn, U.S. Patent Number 5,952,663; issued 14 September 1999.
  • Dyed Microspheres for Characterization of Photochemical Reactor Behavior, Ernest R. Blatchley III, Chengyue Shen, Zorana Naunovic, Lian-Shin Lin, Dennis A. Lyn, Donald E. Bergstrom, Shiyue Fang, Yousheng Guan, J. Paul Robinson, Kathryn E. Ragheb, Gerald J. Gregori, U.S. Patent Number 7,842,512; issued 30 November 2010.
  • Continuous-Flow Solar Ultraviolet Disinfection System for Water, Ernest R. Blatchley III; Eric Gentil Mbonimpa; Bryan Vadheim, U.S. Patent Number 9,546,100 issued 17 January 2017.
  • Chlorination/UV Process for Decomposition and Detoxification of Microcystin-LR, Ernest R. Blatchley III; Jing Li; Xinran Zhang; Jer-Yen Yang, U.S. Patent Number 10,662,100 issued 26 May 2020.
  • Methods and Systems for Separation of Chloramines in Aqueous Solutions, Ernest R. Blatchley III, U.S. Patent Number 11,084,738 issued 10 August 2021.
  • Hydrophobic Surface Coating for Virus Inactivation and Methods Therefor, Tanya Purwar, Victor-Manuel Castano-Meneses, Xing Li, Ernest R. Blatchley III, Luciano Castillo, Ali Doostalab, Patent Application Number 17/586,319, Filed 27 January 2022.