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Leonard William Lion

Professor

Primary Research Areas

  • biomolecular engineering
  • energy, environment, and sustainable development
  • environmental engineering

Research Focus

  • Biogeochemistry.  Coupled biological and chemical processes that influence the fate of pollutant compounds (toxic trace metal cations and nonionic organic compounds) in both natural and engineered systems
  • Evaluation of the effect of microbial coatings (cell surfaces, extracellular polymers and biogenic Mn oxides) on the rate and extent of contaminant adsorption
  • Application of engineered polymeric nano-particles to the facilitated transport of hydrophobic organic compounds in groundwater
  • Design of sustainable physical/chemical water treatment systems for use in developing countries 
  • Sorption and vapor-phase transport of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as the components of fuels and industrial solvents in unsaturated porous media

Educational Background

  • Ph.D. - Stanford University - 1980

Research Grants

  • MICROBIAL MEDIATION OF MANGANESE CYCLING: FORMATION OF BIOGENIC MN OXIDES, OXIDE SCAVENGING OF TOXIC METALS, & COUPLED FATES SUBJECT TO PREDATION BY PROTOZOAN GRAZERS

Selected Publications

PubMed Listings

Journal Papers

Hu, Z., J. Jin, H.D. Abruña, P.L. Houston, A.G. Hay, W.C. Ghiorse, M.L. Shuler, G. Hidalgo and L.W. Lion (2007)
Spatial distributions of copper in microbial biofilms by scanning electrochemical microscopy; Environmental Science and Technology

Zeiner, C.A., M.L. Shuler, W.C. Ghiorse, A. Hay and L.W. Lion (2005)
Cycling of Biogenic Mn-oxides in a Model Microbial Predator-Prey System” Geomicrobiology Journal

Hu., Z, G. Hidalgo, P.L. Houston, A.G. Hay, M.L. Shuler, H.D. Abru'a, W.C. Ghiorse, and L.W. Lion  (2005)
Determination of the spatial distributions of transition metals and active biomass in microbial biofilms by two-photon laser scanning microscopy Applied and Environmental Microbiology

Tungittiplakorn, W., C. Cohen, and L.W. Lion  (2005)
Engineered polymeric nanoparticles for bioremediation of hydrophobic contaminants Environmental Science and Technology

Patton, L.E., M.L. Shuler, and L.W. Lion  (2005)
Behavior of lead in a model microbial predator-prey system Env. Toxicol. & Chem.

Jensen-Spaulding, A., K. Cabral, M.L. Shuler, and L.W. Lion  (2004)
Predicting the Rate and Extent of Cadmium and Copper Desorption from Soils in the Presence of Bacterial Extracellular Polymer Water Research

Patton, L.E., M.L. Shuler, and L.W. Lion  (2004)
Development of a Model Microbial Predator-Prey System Suitable for Studies of the Behavior and Fate of Toxic Trace Metals Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Jensen-Spaulding, A., M.L. Shuler, and L.W. Lion  (2004)
Mobilization of Adsorbed Copper and Lead from Naturally Aged Soil by Bacterial Extracellular Polymers Water Research

Tungittiplakorn W., L.W. Lion, C. Cohen, and J.-Y. Kim  (2004)
Engineered polymeric nano-particles for soil remediation Environmental Science and Technology

Eaglesham, B.S., L.W. Lion, and W.C. Ghiorse  (2004)
An Aufwuchs chamber slide for high-resolution confocal laser scanning microscopy and stereo imaging of microbial communities in natural biofilms Microbial Ecology

Dong, D. L.A. Derry and L.W. Lion  (2003)
Pb Scavenging from a Freshwater Lake by Mn Oxides in Heterogeneous Surface Coating Materials Water Research

Nelson, Y. M., L. W. Lion, M. L. Shuler, and W. C. Ghiorse  (2002)
Effect of Oxide Formation Mechanisms on Lead Adsorption to Biogenic Manganese (hydr)Oxides, Iron (hydr)Oxides, and Their Mixtures Environmental Science and Technology

Kachlany, S.C., S.B. Levery, J.S. Kim, B.L.Reuhs, L.W. Lion, and W.C. Ghiorse  (2002)
Structure and Carbohydrate Analysis of the Exopolysaccharide Capsule of Pseudomonas putida G7 Environmental Microbiology

J. Zhang, L.W. Lion, Y. M. Nelson, M. L. Shuler, and W. C. Ghiorse  (2002)
Kinetics of Mn Oxidation by Leptothrix discophora SS1 Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

Janecka, J., M. B. Jenkins, N. S. Brackett, L. W. Lion, and W. C. Ghiorse  (2002)
Characterization of a Sinorhizobium Isolate and Its Extracellular Polymer Implicated in Pollutant Transport in Soil Applied and Environmental Microbiology

Hill, K., L. W. Lion and B. A. Ahner  (2002)
Reduced Cadmium Accumulation in Zea Mays: A Protective Role for Phytosiderophores' Environmental Science and Technology

Book Chapters

Nelson, Y.M. and L.W. Lion  (2003)
Formation of Biogenic Manganese Oxides and their Influence on the Scavenging of Toxic Trace Metals Geochemical and Hydrological Reactivity of Heavy Metals in Soils