UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Pollutants from industry, dangerous chemicals in manufactured goods, and discarded pharmaceuticals in wastewater systems continue to infiltrate the environment. Some are conspicuous, showing up as a film on a body of water, for example. Some are so small that they are essentially invisible. Being able to identify those contaminants is a crucial step to protect the environment and people’s health, and that is Hlengilizwe Nyoni’s specialty. 

Nyoni, an expert in environmental analytical chemistry, has joined the Institutes of Energy and the Environment as the lead researcher in the unit’s Organics Laboratory. His training, skillset and advanced knowledge of various mass spectroscopy techniques allows him to identify current and emerging global environmental challenges of pollutants and contaminants.

“Just as humans affect the environment, the environment affects humans,” Nyoni said. “The recent decade has seen a lack of readiness and quick response from the global community to environmental emergencies involving chemical and biological contamination. This is due in part to limitations in current analytical methods.” 

According to Nyoni, despite advances in treatment technologies, many pollutants still pose analytical challenges due to their low concentrations.  

“Based on the principle of ‘if you can't measure it, you can't manage it,’ it is vital to develop methods with lower detection limits to inform the correct selection of treatment technologies that can completely remove or degrade such contaminants to harmless substances,” he said. “My work aims to inform the selection of appropriate analytical techniques and chemistry skills to address current and emerging energy and environmental challenges and make the world a safer place.”

To address these issues, Nyoni said his research aims to develop new methods for monitoring emerging pollutants in the environment and water.  

“I am working to create reliable, low-cost monitoring technology for a safer environment,” he said. “The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6, established in 2015, aims to ensure sustainable management of water and sanitation for all people by 2030, including reducing pollution and improving water quality.” 

Nyoni said two of the pollutants of concern are microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

“The world is facing numerous environmental challenges, and it's becoming increasingly apparent that the focus on microplastics and PFAS is crucial. These types of pollutants are causing growing concern in many countries, and their priority may differ based on each country's laws and regulations,” he said. “Beyond microplastics and PFAS, there are other pollutants that the world needs to pay attention to, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as DDT, PCBs, dioxins and furans, which pose a significant risk to the environment and human health. Similarly, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and others, can be harmful.” 

Prior to joining Penn State, Nyoni worked at the University of South Africa's Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability. During his time at the University of South Africa, he established a successful facility that became a major contributor in the field of nanotechnology and water sustainability.  

According to Nyoni, his deep knowledge of analytical techniques and ability to interpret and understand the rationale behind models and theories helped the institute stay at the forefront of water quality research. One focus area of his research was evaluating the performance of various water treatment technologies and addressing current and emerging issues related to water quality and scarcity.  

“The project involved case studies on the application of effect-based methods for evaluating the performance of treatment technologies — including conventional drinking water, water reuse, desalination and wastewater treatment plants — as part of water safety planning, characterizing impacts to surface waters and determining potential impacts of wastewater discharges,” he said.  

Nyoni also worked on a project that used stable isotope-based, chromatographic-mass spectrometric techniques that his students developed and validated to support accurate measurement of chemical compounds in various matrices. The project resulted in external funding and multiple publications. 

In his 13 years of experience in environmental analytical chemistry, he has contributed to the research mentorship of several postdoctoral fellows, helping them achieve their research goals through training and specialized equipment use.  

Nyoni said, in his experience, the Organics Lab is a quality lab in terms of equipment and services.  

“The lab has advanced equipment such as the Thermofisher Scientific Q Exactive (QE) LC-MS, a CDS Pyroprobe 6200 and the Thermofisher Scientific Triple Quadrupole (TSQ 9000) GC-MS/MS, which allows for accurate and precise analysis of organic compounds,” he said. “The staff is highly trained and experienced and provides excellent customer service. The lab also provides a wide range of services and can process a variety of samples. We also regularly check our equipment for accuracy and reliability to ensure that the results of our measurements are as accurate as possible.” 

The Institutes of Energy and the Environment connects and supports interdisciplinary teams of researchers that are solving some of the world’s most difficult energy and environmental challenges.