Pingping Meng

Assistant Professor,
Environmental Chemistry

Office: SZ-505
Phone: 252-737-1383
E-mail: mengp22@ecu.edu
Lab Website

  • Postdoctoral researcher, North Carolina State University (2019-2023)
  • Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, Tsinghua University (2019)
  • BS, Environmental Engineering, Tsinghua University (2014)

 

Research Overview

Research in the Meng lab (Emerging Contaminant lab) focuses on the occurrence, transport, human exposure, and remediation of emerging contaminants in the environment, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pesticides, pharmaceuticals, etc.

Current research focuse consists of: (1) Analysis: developing extraction and analytical methods to quantify PFAS in different environmental matrices; (2) Occurrence: combining different chromatography techniques (LC/MS, GC/MS, combustion IC, etc.) to determine a wide range of PFAS in the coastal environment; (3) Exposure: assisting local PFAS-impacted communities quantify their exposure to PFAS through drinking water, food, air, etc. (4) Treatment: assessing granular activated carbon (GAC), ion exchange (IX) resin and novel alternative adsorbents for PFAS removal using rapid small-scale column tests.

Openings available for Master and PhD students.

Selected Publications

P. Meng, Noelle J. DeStefano, D.R.U. Knappe, Extraction and Matrix Clean-up Method for Analyzing Novel Perfluoroalkyl Ether Acids in Fruits and Vegetables. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2022, 70, 16, 4792–4804.

Y. Fang, P. Meng, C. Scharfer, D.R.U. Knappe, Removal and destruction of perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids (PFECAs) via in an anion exchange resin and electrochemical oxidation treatment train. Water Research 2023, 230, 119522..

P. Meng, X. Jiang, B. Wang, J. Huang, Y. Wang, G. Yu, I.T. Cousins, S. Deng, Role of the air-water interface in removing perfluoroalkyl acids from drinking water by activated carbon treatment. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2020, 386, 121981.

P. Meng, S. Deng, A. Maimaiti, B. Wang, J. Huang, Y. Wang, I.T. Cousins, G. Yu, Efficient removal of perfluorooctane sulfonate from aqueous film-forming foam solution by aeration-foam collection. Chemosphere 2018, 203, 263-270.

P. Meng, S. Deng, X. Lu, Z. Du, B. Wang, J. Huang, Y. Wang, G. Yu, B. Xing, Role of air bubbles overlooked in the adsorption of perfluorooctanesulfonate on hydrophobic carbonaceous adsorbents. Environmental science & technology 2014, 48, (23), 13785-92.