About

Pedro J.J. Alvarez is the George R. Brown Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University. He serves as the founding Director of the NSF Engineering Research Center on Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT) and as Director of the Rice WaTER Institute. His research interests include environmental implications and applications of nanotechnology, bioremediation, fate and transport of toxic chemicals, water footprint of biofuels, water treatment and reuse, and antibiotic resistance control. Alvarez has received numerous awards for his research, including the 2012 Clarke Prize for outstanding research in water science and technology, and the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Civil Engineering for 2026. He has also been recognized for his contributions to environmental engineering education and practice, and has served on various advisory boards, including the scientific advisory board of the EPA and the NSF Engineering Directorate advisory committee. Alvarez holds a B. Eng. Degree in Civil Engineering from McGill University and MS and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Biology
• Environmental science
• Engineering
• Ecology
• Medicine
• Materials science
• Business
• Environmental health
• Environmental engineering
• Computer Security
• Biochemical engineering
• Risk analysis (engineering)
• Chemistry
• Environmental planning
• Nanotechnology
• Chemical engineering
• Environmental chemistry
• Waste management
• Virology
• Photochemistry
• Organic chemistry
• Veterinary medicine
• Process engineering

Selected publications

• High‐Capacity Adsorption and Thermal Destruction Adaptable to PFAS Chain Length via Crystal‐to‐Crystal Transformation of Zirconium–Organic Framework

  Angewandte Chemie International Edition · 2026-04-15

  article

  ABSTRACT Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) face the most stringent drinking water quality standards ever due to their potential toxicity and bioaccumulation potential. Their removal from water is commonly accomplished by adsorption, which is generally ineffective for short‐chain PFAS and unreliable for other homologues with diverse physicochemical properties. Here, we present a versatile platform based on zirconium‐based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) to remove PFAS with different chain lengths via crystal‐to‐crystal transformation. The MOF [Zr 6 (μ 3 ‐O) 4 (μ 3 ‐OH) 4 PTA 3 (H 2 O) 4 ] n ( Zr‐PTA1 , PTA = 4,4′,4″,4′″‐(4,4′‐(1,4‐phenylene) bis (pyridine‐6,4,2‐triyl))tetrabenzoic acid) exhibits exceptional adsorption capacity for C8 PFAS (2945 ± 173 mg/g for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and 2322 ± 28 mg/g for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)), while its crystal‐to‐crystal transformation product [Zr 6 (μ 3 ‐O) 4 (μ 3 ‐OH) 4 PTA 2 (CH 3 COO) 4 ] n ( Zr‐PTA2 ) with abundant open metal sites (OMS) targets shorter‐chain C4 PFAS (375 ± 9 mg/g for perfluorobutanoic acid and 414 ± 41 mg/g for perfluorobutanesulfonic acid), surpassing all previously reported MOFs. Flow‐through column tests demonstrate rapid PFAS removal below 4 ng/L. This exceptional performance is due to distinct structural motifs—steric host–guest fit of Zr‐PTA1 for long‐chain PFAS versus OMS‐driven chemisorption of short‐chain PFAS by Zr‐PTA2 . Importantly, the framework facilitates subsequent thermal‐catalytic PFAS destruction, achieving 97 ± 5% PFOA degradation efficiency with 79 ± 0.3% fluoride recovery.

  PublisherDOI

• Global Impact of 60 years of <i>ES</i> <i>&amp;T</i>

  Environmental Science & Technology · 2026-01-08 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  For 60 years, the Environmental Science & Technology research community has helped to define the fields of environmental science and engineering. The research topics have evolved over time to respond to the most pressing societal needs, from treatment technologies and pollution control strategies to address severe environmental pollution, to pollution prevention and industrial ecology to help mitigate emissions, and to defining planetary boundaries for sustainability. Since ES&T launched in 1967, it has helped to create a robust global network of researchers, with researchers from 144 countries now contributing to address critical global environmental and human health challenges. Throughout its six decades, ES&T research has remained highly relevant to understanding, addressing, and advancing solutions to both current and emerging challenges and for developing science-based policies to protect the environment and human health. We are optimistic that the ES&T research community will continue to serve to help shape research and action toward a healthier, resilient, and sustainable planet for all of us in the next 60 years.

  PublisherDOI

• Precision Selenium Doping Unlocks Palladium Nanocluster for Efficient Chemoselective Hydrogenations

  Journal of the American Chemical Society · 2026-05-15

  article

  Supported subnanometric metal clusters have attracted widespread interest in heterogeneous catalysis owing to their high atom exposure and increased density of low-coordinated metals. However, these reactive metals are often in a highly charged state due to the strong metal–support interaction, leading to limited chemoselectivity toward multifunctional substrates and poor resistance to poisoning. This study demonstrates that the site-specific doping of trace selenium (Se) can sustain the metallic state of fully exposed palladium (Pd) nanoclusters, enabling chemoselective hydrogenation of halonitrobenzenes to haloanilines, an important yet highly challenging transformation. The precision Se-doped Pd nanoclusters outperform many reported noble-metal catalysts, achieving >99% selectivity at full conversion and a turnover frequency of 15,593 h–1, together with excellent poison resistance and reusability. Mechanistic investigations reveal a semiquantitative correlation between the Pd0/Pdδ+ ratio and haloaniline selectivity. Trace Se doping enriches electron density on Pd sites, enhancing H2 activation while suppressing undesired hydrodehalogenation by modulating the adsorption and activation of haloanilines. This work not only establishes a versatile strategy to precisely tune the metallic state of metal clusters via Se doping but also provides insights for designing efficient catalysts that overcome support-induced electronic perturbations.

  PublisherDOI

• High‐Capacity Adsorption and Thermal Destruction Adaptable to PFAS Chain Length via Crystal‐to‐Crystal Transformation of Zirconium–Organic Framework

  Angewandte Chemie · 2026-04-16

  article

  ABSTRACT Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) face the most stringent drinking water quality standards ever due to their potential toxicity and bioaccumulation potential. Their removal from water is commonly accomplished by adsorption, which is generally ineffective for short‐chain PFAS and unreliable for other homologues with diverse physicochemical properties. Here, we present a versatile platform based on zirconium‐based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) to remove PFAS with different chain lengths via crystal‐to‐crystal transformation. The MOF [Zr 6 (μ 3 ‐O) 4 (μ 3 ‐OH) 4 PTA 3 (H 2 O) 4 ] n ( Zr‐PTA1 , PTA = 4,4′,4″,4′″‐(4,4′‐(1,4‐phenylene) bis (pyridine‐6,4,2‐triyl))tetrabenzoic acid) exhibits exceptional adsorption capacity for C8 PFAS (2945 ± 173 mg/g for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and 2322 ± 28 mg/g for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)), while its crystal‐to‐crystal transformation product [Zr 6 (μ 3 ‐O) 4 (μ 3 ‐OH) 4 PTA 2 (CH 3 COO) 4 ] n ( Zr‐PTA2 ) with abundant open metal sites (OMS) targets shorter‐chain C4 PFAS (375 ± 9 mg/g for perfluorobutanoic acid and 414 ± 41 mg/g for perfluorobutanesulfonic acid), surpassing all previously reported MOFs. Flow‐through column tests demonstrate rapid PFAS removal below 4 ng/L. This exceptional performance is due to distinct structural motifs—steric host–guest fit of Zr‐PTA1 for long‐chain PFAS versus OMS‐driven chemisorption of short‐chain PFAS by Zr‐PTA2 . Importantly, the framework facilitates subsequent thermal‐catalytic PFAS destruction, achieving 97 ± 5% PFOA degradation efficiency with 79 ± 0.3% fluoride recovery.

  PublisherDOI

• The Future of Municipal Wastewater Reuse Concentrate Management: Drivers, Challenges, and Opportunities

  UNC Libraries · 2026-04-15

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Water reuse is rapidly becoming an integral feature of resilient water systems, where municipal wastewater undergoes advanced treatment, typically involving a sequence of ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO), and an advanced oxidation process (AOP). When RO is used, a concentrated waste stream is produced that is elevated in not only total dissolved solids but also metals, nutrients, and micropollutants that have passed through conventional wastewater treatment. Management of this RO concentrate─dubbed municipal wastewater reuse concentrate (MWRC)─will be critical to address, especially as water reuse practices become more widespread. Building on existing brine management practices, this review explores MWRC management options by identifying infrastructural needs and opportunities for multi-beneficial disposal. To safeguard environmental systems from the potential hazards of MWRC, disposal, monitoring, and regulatory techniques are discussed to promote the safety and affordability of implementing MWRC management. Furthermore, opportunities for resource recovery and valorization are differentiated, while economic techniques to revamp cost-benefit analysis for MWRC management are examined. The goal of this critical review is to create a common foundation for researchers, practitioners, and regulators by providing an interdisciplinary set of tools and frameworks to address the impending challenges and emerging opportunities of MWRC management.

  PublisherDOI

• Oxygen-vacancy-linked Co and Zr triadic sites steering C-P cleavage in aminophosphonates

  Applied Catalysis B: Environmental · 2026-04-15

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Trigonal-Pyramidal Coordination-Triggered Conformational Changes in Multiemission Carbon Dots Enable Highly Selective Arsenic Detection

  Environmental Science & Technology · 2025-10-20

  article

  Developing tools for rapid and accurate arsenic detection is critical to mitigate the risks of consuming groundwater in regions with a high likelihood of (often geogenic) arsenic contamination. Fluorescent sensors are promising platforms; yet, their selectivity is often compromised by interfering water constituents. Inspired by the mechanism of microbial resistance to arsenic, which is enabled by ArsR proteins through exact coordination of three cysteine thiolates with As(III), we synthesized a novel self-calibration sensor (DMSA-M-CDs) with donor-acceptor luminophores by functionalization of multi-emission carbon dots with dimercaptosuccinic acid. This sensor quantitatively detects As(III), the most toxic and most mobile arsenic species, in complex water matrices with a detection limit as low as 1.0 μg/L. DMSA-M-CDs exhibit unprecedentedly high selectivity and robustness against interference by 42 coexisting constituents, and the measured values in real groundwater samples using this sensor are comparable to those by liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LC-ICP-MS). This superior performance is attributed to the formation of a trigonal-pyramidal complex with As(III) via As-S bonds, which triggers conformational changes of donor-acceptor luminophores and, consequently, fluorescence quenching. This bio-inspired strategy for rapid and reliable detection of trace arsenic concentrations in water also offers a novel sensing paradigm to tackle the global threat of heavy metal contamination.

  PublisherDOI

• High Power Density Multiphase Coil Architecture with Integrated Filter Inductance for Wireless Power Transfer Systems

  2025-10-14

  article1st authorCorresponding

  Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) is an emerging technology that enables energy transfer without physical contact. One of the main challenges in its practical implementation is achieving high material efficiency relative to the power transferred. This work proposes a novel high-power-density multiphase coil architecture that integrates the LCC filter inductors directly into the transmitting system, thereby eliminating the need for additional ferrite cores and reducing conductor length. Unlike previous approaches, this proposal leverages both the spatial and phase alignment of multiphase coils to achieve a constructive superposition of the resulting rotating magnetic field. Electrical and magnetic models of the proposed system were developed, along with time and frequency domain simulations, enabling the analysis of system stability and magnetic field gain. The results show that inductor integration does not negatively impact field shape or system efficiency, while significantly reducing material usage and maintaining high power transfer capability. This proposal lays the foundation for the design of more compact and material-efficient multiphase WPT systems.

  PublisherDOI

• Artificial intelligence-empowered imaging technologies for biofilm static characterization and dynamic monitoring

  Chemical Engineering Journal · 2025-08-23

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Harnessing phage consortia to mitigate the soil antibiotic resistome by targeting keystone taxa Streptomyces

  Microbiome · 2025-05-19 · 10 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance poses a substantial and growing threat to global health. While antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are tracked most closely in clinical settings, their spread remains poorly understood in non-clinical environments. Mitigating the spread of ARGs in non-clinical contexts such as soil could limit their enrichment in food webs. RESULTS: Multi-omics (involving metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, viromics, and metabolomics) and direct experimentation show that targeting keystone bacterial taxa by phages can limit ARG maintenance and dissemination in natural soil environments. Based on the metagenomic analysis, we first show that phages from activated sludge can regulate soil microbiome composition and function in terms of reducing ARG abundances and changing the bacterial community composition. This effect was mainly driven by a reduction in the abundance and activity of Streptomyces genus, which is well known for encoding both antibiotic resistance and synthesis genes. To validate the significance of this keystone species for the loss of ARGs, we enriched phage consortia specific to Streptomyces and tested their effect on ARG abundances on 48 soil samples collected across China. We observed a consistent reduction in ARG abundances across all soils, confirming that Streptomyces-enriched phages could predictably change the soil microbiome resistome and mitigate the prevalence of ARGs. This study highlights that phages can be used as ecosystem engineers to control the spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that some bacterial keystone taxa are critical for ARG maintenance and dissemination in soil microbiomes, and opens new ecological avenues for microbiome modification and resistome control. This study advances our understanding of how metagenomics-informed phage consortia can be used to predictably regulate soil microbiome composition and functioning by targeting keystone bacterial taxa. Video Abstract.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• RAPID: Molecular Imprinting of Coronavirus Attachment Factors to Enhance Disinfection by a Selective Photocatalytic “Trap-and-Zap” Approach

  NSF · $188k · 2020–2023

• Core E: Research Support - Chemical Core

  NIH · $22.2M · 2020–2030

• Collaborative Research: Developing Novel Surface Immobilized Photocatalysts Using Functionalized C60

  NSF · $200k · 2009–2012

• Correlation between Biomarker Concentrations and Hydrocarbon Biodegradation Rates to Enhance the Selection and Performance Assessment of Bioremediation and Natural Attenuation

  NSF · $129k · 2007–2010

• NSF Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nantechnology Enabled Water Treatment Systems (NEWT)

  NSF · $36.2M · 2015–2025

Frequent coauthors

• Qilin Li

  Rice University

  84 shared

• Jacques Mathieu

  Rice University

  65 shared

• Pingfeng Yu

  Yangtze University

  65 shared

• Xiaolei Qu

  State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse

  55 shared

• Jae‐Hong Kim

  Yale University

  47 shared

• Delina Y. Lyon

  Concawe

  44 shared

• Mark R. Wiesner

  Duke University

  37 shared

• Heyun Fu

  Nanjing University

  32 shared

Education

• PhD, Environmental Engineering

  University of Michigan

  1992

• MSE, Environmental Engineering

  University of Michigan

  1989

• BEngr , Civil Engineering

  McGill University

  1982

Awards & honors

• 2012 Clarke Prize laureate for outstanding research in water…
• AAEES Grand Prize for Excellence in Environmental Engineerin…
• Collegiate Excellence in Teaching Award
• Perry McCarty AEESP Founders’ Award for Outstanding Contribu…
• AEESP Frontiers in Research Award