John Fortner
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About
Research
Publications
2026
Accessibility Matters: Demonstrating the Critical Role of Mesoporous Pore Dimension on PFAS Adsorption Removal by Amine-Functionalized Surfaces
Watt L, Lee S, Bravo A, Vasiliou P, Luong A, Durak O, Menges F, Chae S, Jung H, Fortner J. Accessibility Matters: Demonstrating the Critical Role of Mesoporous Pore Dimension on PFAS Adsorption Removal by Amine-Functionalized Surfaces. Environmental Science And Technology 2026 PMID: 42289881, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6c02292.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSurface chemistryPore dimensionsPore entrance sizePFAS structuresPore architectureAmine-functionalized surfacesMesoporous silica nanoparticlesPolyfluoroalkyl substancesSteric accessibilityHigh-performance sorbentsGrafting densityAmine-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticlesSorption behaviorStober methodSorbent materialSorbent designThreshold diameterAdsorption performanceSolution pHSurface-functionalizedSorbentControl architecturePFAS managementSilica nanoparticlesAdsorption capacityTowards Optimizing Short-Chained PFCA Esterification in Water
Maisto S, Hong D, Menges F, Luong A, Fortner J. Towards Optimizing Short-Chained PFCA Esterification in Water. Water Research 2026, 126296. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2026.126296.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchShort-chain perfluorocarboxylic acidsPerfluorocarboxylic acidsChemical transformationsAqueous phaseReactions AdditionNMR methodsPerfluorooctanoic acidLong-chain perfluorocarboxylic acidsReactant concentrationIn situ measurementsIndustrial point sourcesAqueous contaminantsPhase separationSeparation stepIonic strengthPFAS removalHigh ionic strengthSingle-soluteHumic acidEsterificationReactionTreatment technologiesSeparationWater constituentsAcidBreaking the rejection–swelling tradeoff in thermoresponsive hydrogels via polyelectrolyte copolymerization for low-energy water treatment
Sahin B, Geiselhart C, Mendoza I, Fortner J. Breaking the rejection–swelling tradeoff in thermoresponsive hydrogels via polyelectrolyte copolymerization for low-energy water treatment. Chemical Engineering Journal 2026, 178438. DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2026.178438.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLower Critical Solution TemperatureSwelling ratioPoly(N-isopropylacrylamideSalt rejectionSodium acrylateThermoresponsive hydrogelSemi-interpenetrating polymer networkEquilibrium swelling ratioCore-shell compositesAcrylic acidFunctionalized graphene oxideFree radical polymerizationRejection enhancementSwelling performanceStorage modulusCritical solution temperaturePolymer networkCopolymer networksGraphene oxideRatio gainMechanical integrityNetwork reinforcementMechanical stiffnessHydraulic pressureSwelling capacityBeyond persistence: SERS-driven strategies for PFAS detection and monitoring
Nam D, Kim H, Ban H, Durak Ö, Park J, Fortner J, Lee S. Beyond persistence: SERS-driven strategies for PFAS detection and monitoring. Nano Convergence 2026, 13: 11. PMID: 41774293, PMCID: PMC12957689, DOI: 10.1186/s40580-026-00538-0.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsHigh bond dissociation energyLocalized surface plasmon resonanceHost-guest inclusionCarbon-fluorine bondsHigh-throughput quantificationPolyfluoroalkyl substancesPortable sensing platformMolecular cavityComplex environmental matricesSurface plasmon resonanceCovalent bondsB-cyclodextrinChemical stabilityFunctional groupsSensing platformPpt levelSpectral deconvolutionDiverse water resourcesLC-MS/MSPlasmon resonanceSpectral interferencesPFAS detectionsSurface functionalizationMaximum contaminant levelMetal nanostructuresAdvancing membrane fouling control via electrically driven microbubble generation: Phosphidation-enhanced electrocatalytic activity of Ni foam and numerical optimization of operational parameters
Yun E, Shim J, Choi J, Oh H, Lee J, Fortner J, Cho K, Lee J. Advancing membrane fouling control via electrically driven microbubble generation: Phosphidation-enhanced electrocatalytic activity of Ni foam and numerical optimization of operational parameters. Water Research 2026, 297: 125678. PMID: 41819661, DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2026.125678.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHydrogen evolution reactionFlux recoveryElectrochemical characterizationMicrobubble generatorOperating parametersFavorable hydrogen evolution reactionMembrane fouling controlNumerical optimizationOptimization of operating parametersMembrane-based processesLong-term chronoamperometryStructural stabilityFoulant removalFouling mitigationNi foamMembrane cleaningNickel foamFouling controlFouling removalTafel slopeEvolution reactionCeramic membranesTransmembrane pressurePermeate fluxFouling severitySolar-Driven Photocatalytic Trichloroethylene Mineralization with High CO2 Selectivity
Gao Y, Wang H, Ren L, Yu K, Sun Q, Wang T, Liu M, Fortner J, Wang H. Solar-Driven Photocatalytic Trichloroethylene Mineralization with High CO2 Selectivity. Nano Letters 2026, 26: 3181-3187. PMID: 41739087, DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c06386.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPristine TiOAnatase TiO2 nanocrystalsComplete mineralizationVolatile organic compoundsHigh CO2 selectivityReaction rateMaterial design strategyMineralization of trichloroethyleneChlorinated volatile organic compoundsComposite photocatalystPhotocatalytic activityThermal catalysisPhotocatalytic oxidationTandem pathwayCO2 selectivityPt nanoparticlesTruncated bipyramidsProduct selectivityTCE mineralizationSustainable routeTrichloroethylene degradationOrganic compoundsProduction ratioTrichloroethyleneMaterials-based strategiesElucidating an unrecognized iron leaching mechanism via sequential reduction-oxidation of passivation layer on stainless-steel cathodes for electro-Fenton process
Li Y, Xie S, Duan Y, Qian A, Yuan S, Fortner J, Jiang Y, Liao P. Elucidating an unrecognized iron leaching mechanism via sequential reduction-oxidation of passivation layer on stainless-steel cathodes for electro-Fenton process. Water Research 2026, 296: 125617. PMID: 41763145, DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2026.125617.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsStainless steel cathodeSequential reduction-oxidationElectro-Fenton processEfficient contaminant removalElectro-FentonPassivation layerLow-cost stainless steel cathodesContaminant removalFe leachingAir-diffusion cathodeHomogeneous electro-FentonCathodic reductionElectro-Fenton reactionLong-term operationOrganic contaminant removalFlow-through reactorMicrostructural characterizationOxidative dissolutionCathode applicationLeaching mechanismCathodeCorrosion dynamicsWater purificationHeterogeneous catalysisFe release
2025
Engineering Magnetic Nanobiocatalysts via Mussel Foot Protein-Mediated Laccase Immobilization for Enhanced Performance and Reusability
Ghosh A, Kim E, Kim C, Şahin B, Zhang F, Fortner J. Engineering Magnetic Nanobiocatalysts via Mussel Foot Protein-Mediated Laccase Immobilization for Enhanced Performance and Reusability. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2025, 18: 3026-3037. PMID: 41472495, DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5c18646.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSuperparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticlesMethyl orange removalHigher activation energyIron oxide nanoparticlesCatalytic applicationsSurfactant ligandsRecoverable platformCatalytic turnoverScalable routeActivation energyOxidation affinityHigher catalytic efficiencyCatalytic efficiencyCationic natureOxide nanoparticlesReuse cyclesSilica coatingOperational stabilityHigh efficiencyAromatic pollutantsImmobilization strategyThermal deactivationLaccase immobilizationReusabilityChemical processesSimultaneous photochemical oxidation of As(III) and Mn2+(aq) in the presence of hematite
Choi J, Kim D, Lee S, Fortner J, Myung Y, Tang Y, Jung H. Simultaneous photochemical oxidation of As(III) and Mn2+(aq) in the presence of hematite. Water Research 2025, 291: 125182. PMID: 41421331, DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.125182.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPhotocatalytic oxidationAs(III)Concurrent oxidationSimultaneous photocatalytic oxidationSurface sitesReductive dissolutionSurface waterDirect electron transferMn oxidesReductive dissolution of FeEnvironmentally relevant conditionsPhotocorrosion mechanismPhotocatalytic strategyNatural aqueous systemsPresence of hematiteElectron transferRedox reactivityDissolution of FeToxic metalloidContaminated environmentsRedox interactionEnvironmental relevanceRedox cyclingHeterogeneous oxidationSunlight experimentsTunable, Thermoresponsive Hydrogel-Based Composites for Facile, Low-Energy Water Desalination and Recovery
Sahin B, Tan A, Geiselhart C, Fortner J. Tunable, Thermoresponsive Hydrogel-Based Composites for Facile, Low-Energy Water Desalination and Recovery. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2025, 17: 63827-63835. PMID: 41197612, DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5c18541.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStimuli-responsive hydrogelsGraphene oxide additionHydrogel-based compositesThermally responsive hydrogelsSalt rejectionResponsive hydrogelsReverse osmosisComposite materialsThermoresponsive hydrogelMembrane technologyWater recoveryWater collection rateWater desalinationHydrogel coreThin polymer shellPolymer shellHydrogelsDesalinated waterSystem tunabilityAlternative technologiesFunction of temperatureOxidative additionExternal pressureUnconventional waterLow energy
News
News
- June 16, 2023Source: ACS ES&T Engineering
Nanobubble Reactivity: Evaluating Hydroxyl Radical Generation (or Lack Thereof) Under Ambient Conditions
- December 16, 2019
Threat of Toxic Chemicals Draws Scores of Experts to Yale School of Public Health
- December 02, 2019Source: Yale Daily News
High exposure to harmful chemical impacts thyroid hormones in pregnant mothers