 | Brian Richards, Ph. D. Senior Research Associate Profile and CV | 76B Riley Robb bkr2@cornell.edu Web site |
Research Interests
My research focuses on the in-soil mobility and fate of contaminants, including trace elements from land-applied wastewater sludge, nutrients, and, more recently, pesticides. My experience and training are broadly based, covering soil and water engineering, soil science, environmental engineering, environmental quality and life sciences. The Soil & Water Engineering group in the Department of Biological & Environmental Engineering is an effective team of faculty and associates, with each member contributing particular strengths. Research on land-applied wastewater sludge issues is a cooperative effort of a larger multidisciplinary group of researchers on campus. Areas of expertise that I bring to these groups include soil-oriented aspects of soil & water engineering, soil chemistry, environmental engineering, experimental design, analytical instrumentation and procedures, laboratory administration, and scientific/grant writing.
Publications
Contaminant mobility
Sayyad, G., M. Afyuni, S.-F. Mousavi, K. C. Abbaspour, B. K. Richards, R. Schulin. 2008. Transport and accumulation of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in arid calcareous soil under wheat and safflower cultivation- a column study. In press. Soil & Sediment Contamination.
Molodovskaya, M. S., O. Singurindy, B. K. Richards, and T. S. Steenhuis. 2008. Nitrous oxide emissions from dairy manure as affected by oxic and anoxic conditions. Bioresource Technology 99:8643–8648. DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2008.04.062
Singurindy, O., M. Molodovskaya, B. K. Richards, and T. S. Steenhuis. 2008. Gaseous nitrogen emissions from soil aggregates as affected by clay mineralogy and repeated urine applications. Water, Air and Soil Pollution 195:285-299. DOI: /10.1007/s11270-008-9746-4
Gao, B., T. S. Steenhuis, Y. Zevi, V. L. Morales, J. L. Nieber, B. K. Richards, J. F. McCarthy, and J.-Yves Parlange. 2008. Capillary retention of colloids in unsaturated porous media. Water Resources Research 44, W04504. DOI:10.1029/2006WR005332
Kim, B., M. B. McBride, B. K. Richards & T. S. Steenhuis. 2007. The long-term effect of sludge application on Cu, Zn and Mo behavior in soils and accumulation in soybean seeds. Plant and Soil 299:227-236. DOI: 10.1007/s11104-007-9377-3
Harrison, E.Z and U. Krogmann (editors); A. Barker, E. Harrison, A. Hay, U. Krogmann, M. McBride,W. McDowell, B. Richards, T. Steenhuis, R. Stehouwer (coauthors). 2007. Guidelines For Application Of Sewage Biosolids To Agricultural Lands In The Northeastern U.S. Report of Northeast Regional Multi-State Research Committee NEC 1001. Published as Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension Publ. E317. Available on-line at: http://hdl.handle.net/1813/7934
B. K. Richards, J. F. McCarthy, T. S. Steenhuis, A. G. Hay, Y. Zevi, A. Dathe. 2007. Colloidal transport: the facilitated movement of contaminants into groundwater. (Short feature article on colloidal transport phenomena.) Journal of Soil & Water Conservation 62(3)55A-56A.
Zevi, Y., A. Dathe, B. Gao, B. K. Richards, and T. S. Steenhuis. 2006. Quantifying colloid retention in partially saturated porous media. Water Resources Research 42, W12S03, DOI: 10.1029/2006WR004929.
Singurindy, O., B. K. Richards, M. Molodovskaya and T. S. Steenhuis. 2006. Nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions from urine-applied soils: texture effect. Vadose Zone Journal 5:1236–1245DOI:10.2136/vzj2006.0073.
Steenhuis, T.S., A. Dathe, Y. Zevi, J. L. Smith, B. Gao, S. B. Shaw, D. DeAlwis, S. Amaro-Garcia, R. Fehrman, M. E. Cakmak, I. C. Toevs, B. M. Liu, S. M. Beyer, J. T. Crist, A. G. Hay, B. K. Richards, D. DiCarlo, J. F. McCarthy. 2006. Biocolloid retention in partially saturated soils. Biologia 61: S229-S233 Suppl. 19.
Sinkevich, M. G., M.T. Walter, T. S. Steenhuis, A. J. Lembo, B. K. Richards, and N. Peranginangin. 2005. A GIS-based groundwater contamination risk assessment tool for pesticides. Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation 25 (4): 82-91.
Zevi, Y., A. Dathe, J. F. McCarthy, B. K. Richards, and T. S. Steenhuis. 2005. Distribution of colloid particles onto interfaces in partially saturated sand. Environmental Science & Technology 39:7055-7064. DOI: 10.1021/es048595b.
Zubris, K. A. V. and B. K. Richards. 2005. Synthetic fibers as an indicator of land application of sludge. Environmental Pollution 138:201-211. DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.04.013
Gao, B., M. T. Walter, T. S. Steenhuis, J.-Y. Parlange, B. K. Richards, W. L. Hogarth, C. W. Rose and G. Sander. 2005. Investigating raindrop effects on the transport of sediment and chemicals from soil to surface runoff. Journal of Hydrology 308: 313-320. DOI:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.11.007
Steenhuis T. S., J. F. McCarthy, J. T. Crist, Y. Zevi, P. C. Baveye, J. A. Throop, R. L. Fehrman, A. Dathe, and B. K. Richards. 2005. Reply to Comments on Pore-scale visualization of colloid transport and retention in partly saturated porous media. Vadose Zone Journal 4 (4): 957-958.
Richards, B. K., B. M. Schulte, A. Heilig, T. S. Steenhuis and E. Z. Harrison. 2004. Environmental impacts of applying manure, fertilizer, and sewage biosolids on a dairy farm. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 40(4)1025-1042.
McBride, M. B., B. K. Richards and T. S. Steenhuis. 2004. Bioavailability and crop uptake of trace elements in soil columns amended with sewage sludge products. Plant and Soil 262:71-84. DOI: 10.1023/B:PLSO.0000037031.21561.34
Qureshi, S., B. K. Richards, T. S. Steenhuis, M. B. McBride, P. Baveye and S. Dousset. 2004. Microbial acidification and pH effects on trace element release from sewage sludge. Environmental Pollution 132:61-71. DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2004.03.024
Richards, B. K., N. Peranginangin, T. S. Steenhuis and L. D. Geohring. 2003. The unintentional secret. (Short feature article on preferential flow phenomena.) Journal of Soil & Water Conservation, September-October 2003 59(5):104A-105A.
Qureshi, S., B. K. Richards, T. S. Steenhuis, M. B. McBride, and P. Baveye. 2003. Temperature and activity effects on trace element leaching from metalliferous peat. Journal of Environmental Quality 32:2067-2075.
Akhtar, M. S., T. S. Steenhuis, B. K. Richards, and M. B. McBride. 2003. Chloride and lithium transport in large arrays of undisturbed silt loam and sandy loam soil columns. Vadose Zone Journal 2:715-727.
Qureshi, S., B. K. Richards, A. G. Hay, C. C. Tsai, M. B. McBride, P. Baveye, and T. S. Steenhuis. 2003. Effect of microbial activity on trace element release from sewage sludge. Environmental Science & Technology 37:3361-3366. DOI: 10.1021/es020970h
Akhtar, M. S., B. K. Richards, P. A. Medrano, M. DeGroot and T. S. Steenhuis. 2003. Dissolved phosphorus losses from undisturbed soil cores: related to adsorption strength, flow rate, or soil structure? Soil Science Society of America Journal. 67:458-470.
McBride, M. B., E. A. Nibarger, B. K. Richards and T. S. Steenhuis. 2003. Trace metal accumulation by red clover grown on sewage sludge-amended soils and correlation to Mehlich 3 and calcium chloride-extractable metals. Soil Science 168:29-38.
Richards, B. K., T. S. Steenhuis, J. H. Peverly and M. B. McBride. 2000. Effect of sludge processing mode, soil texture and soil pH on metal mobility in undisturbed soil columns under accelerated loading. Environmental Pollution 109:327-346. DOI:10.1016/S0269-7491(99)00249-3
McBride, M. B., B. K. Richards, T. S. Steenhuis and G. Spiers. 2000. Molybdenum uptake by forage crops grown on sewage sludge-amended soils in the field and greenhouse. Journal of Environmental Quality 29:848-854.
Richards, B. K. 1999. Trace metal mobility from land-applied sludge products. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
McBride, M. B., B. K. Richards, T. S. Steenhuis and G. Spiers. 1999. Long-term leaching of trace elements in a heavily sludge-amended silty clay loam soil. Soil Science 164:612-613.
Steenhuis, T. S., M. B. McBride, B. K. Richards and E. Z. Harrison. 1999. Trace metal retention in the incorporation zone of land-applied sludge. Environmental Science & Technology 33:1171-1174. DOI: 10.1021/es980281z
Richards, B. K., T. S. Steenhuis, J. H. Peverly and M. B. McBride. 1998. Metal mobility at an old, heavily-loaded sludge application site. Environmental Pollution 99:365-377. DOI: 10.1016/S0269-7491(98)00011-6
Harrison, E. Z., M. B. McBride, B. K. Richards and T. S. Steenhuis. 1998. Sludge effects on land: a case for caution. Resource 5(9):11-12. (Non-refereed feature article.)
Richards, B. K., T. S. Steenhuis, J. H. Peverly and B. N. Liebowitz. 1997. Effect of processing mode on trace elements in dewatered sludge products. Journal of Environmental Quality 26:782-788.
McBride, M. B., B. K. Richards, T. S. Steenhuis, J. J. Russo and S. Suave. 1997. Mobility and solubility of toxic metals and nutrients in soil fifteen years after sludge application. Soil Science 162:487-500.
Camobreco, V. J., B. K. Richards, T. S. Steenhuis, J. H. Peverly and M. B. McBride. 1996. Movement of heavy metals through undisturbed and homogenized soil columns. Soil Science 161(11) 740-750.
Biomass Conversion to Methane The Cornell research group led by Dr. William Jewell was part of a large national “energy crop” program (funded by the Gas Research Institute) pursuing the development of methane conversion in the 1980's. A number of our articlescan be difficult to access on-line: double asterisks [**] in this section indicate that a PDF is available for that citation – please email me for a copy.
Richards, B. K., F. G. Herndon, W. J. Jewell, R. J. Cummings and T. E. White. 1994. In situ methane enrichment in methanogenic energy crop digesters. Biomass & Bioenergy 6:275-282. DOI: 10.1016/0961-9534(94)90067-1 **
Jewell, W. J., R. J. Cummings and B. K. Richards. 1993. Methane fermentation of energy crops: maximum conversion kinetics and in situ biogas purification. Biomass & Bioenergy 5:261-278. DOI: 10.1016/0961-9534(93)90076-G **
Jewell, W. J., R. J. Cummings and B. K. Richards. 1992. Energy production from biomass and wastes: present limitations and potential improvements. Pages 7-36 of W. Baader (ed.), Third FAO/CNREE Workshop, Biotechnologies for Pollution Control and Energy. Braunschweig, Germany, May 5-7, 1992. 544 pp.
Richards, B. K., R. J. Cummings, and W. J. Jewell. 1991. High rate low solids anaerobic methane fermentation of sorghum, corn and cellulose. Biomass & Bioenergy 1:249-260. DOI: 10.1016/0961-9534(91)90036-C **
Richards, B. K., R. J. Cummings, T. E. White and W. J. Jewell. 1991. Methods for kinetic analysis of methane fermentation in high solids biomass digesters. Biomass & Bioenergy 1:65-73. DOI: 10.1016/0961-9534(91)90028-B **
Richards, B. K., R. J. Cummings, W. J. Jewell and F. G. Herndon. 1991. High solids anaerobic methane fermentation of sorghum and cellulose. Biomass & Bioenergy 1:47-53. DOI: 10.1016/0961-9534(91)90051-D **
Hedrick, D. B., B. K. Richards, W. J. Jewell, J. B. Guckert and D. C. White. 1991. Disturbance, starvation and overfeeding stresses detected by microbial lipid biomarkers in high-solids high-yield methanogenic reactors. Journal of Industrial Microbiology 8:91-98. DOI: 10.1007/BF01578759 **
Hedrick, D. B., A. Vass, B. K. Richards, W. J. Jewell, J. B. Guckert and D. C. White. 1991. Starvation and overfeeding stress on the microbial activities in high-solids high-yield methanogenic digesters. Biomass & Bioenergy 1:75-82. DOI:10.1016/0961-9534(91)90029-C **
Jewell, W. J., R. J. Cummings, B. K. Richards, et al. 1988 - 1990. Engineering design considerations for methane fermentation of energy crops - fundamental investigations. Annual Reports (1988 - GRI 91/0010, 152 pp.; 1989 - GRI 91/0275, 215 pp.; 1990 - GRI 91/0358, 249 pp.) to the Gas Research Institute, 8600 West Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, Illinois, 60631.
W. J. Jewell, et al. 1984-1987. Engineering design considerations for methane fermentation of energy crops. Annual Reports (1984 - GRI 85/0102, 342 pp.; 1985 - GRI 86/0131, 511 pp.; 1986 - GRI 87/0061, 557 pp.; 1987 - GRI 88/0263, 277 pp.) to the Gas Research Institute, 8600 West Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, Illinois, 60631.
Richards, B. K. 1988. Volatile fatty acid analysis using flame ionization detector gas chromatography (unpublished in-house manual). Third Revision, September 1988 (42 pp).
Krupp, L. R. and W. J. Jewell. 1991. Biodegradability of modified plastic films in controlled biological environments. Environmental Science & Technology 26(1) 193-198. (Acknowledged for bioreactor consultation.)
Waste Management and Remediation
Jewell, W. J. et al. 1994. Saline gas-produced waters treatment with macrophytes in a hydroponic system. Final Report (GRI 94/0048) to the Gas Research Institute, 8600 West Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, Illinois, 60631. (Project manager and lead report writer.)
Jewell, W.J., Carter, S.R., Fennell, D.E., Hicks, E.E., Nelson, Y.M., Nock, T.D., Richards, B.K., Wilson, M.S. 1992. Methanotrophs for biological pollution control: TCE removal and nutrient removal with the expanded bed. EPA Report PB94-186814.
Jewell, W. J. et al. 1990-1992. Methanotrophs for biological pollution control: TCE and Nutrient removal with the expanded bed. Annual Reports (1990 - GRI 91/0274, 270 pp.; 1991/1992 - GRI 93/0455) to the Gas Research Institute, 8600 West Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, Illinois, 60631.
Richards, B. K., M. F. Walter and R. E. Muck. 1984. Variation in line transect measurements of crop residue cover. Journal of Soil & Water Conservation 39(1) 60-61.
Muck, R. E., R. W. Guest and B. K. Richards. 1984. Effects of manure storage design on nitrogen conservation. Agricultural Wastes 10(3) 205-220. DOI:10.1016/0141-4607(84)90061-1
Muck, R. E. and B. K. Richards. 1983. Losses of manurial nitrogen in free-stall barns. Agricultural Wastes 7(2) 65-79. DOI:10.1016/0141-4607(83)90005-7
Walter, M. F., R. C. Loehr, R. J. Linkenheil, D. F. Sherman, B. K. Richards and P. D. Robillard.1983. Evaluation of milkhouse wastewater treatment. USDA, Soil Conservation Service and Cornell University Cooperative Agreement Annual Report. 228 pp.
Richards. B. K. 1982. Chisel plow incorporation of manure and crop residue. MPS Project Report (unpublished). Cornell University. August 1982.
Muck, R. E., R. W. Guest and B. K. Richards.1981. Gravity-filled and emptied manure storage: effluent characteristics. American Society of Agricultural Engineers Paper No. NAR-81-218.