Simmons Lab

Our Mission

The Simmons laboratory researches techniques for improving energy and water use efficiency in food processing and agriculture. Our work aims to improve energy and water sustainability while providing benefits to growers and food processors. Specifically, we investigate methods to liberate fermentable sugars from food processing waste biomass for liquid biofuel production in addition to direct bioconversion of waste biomass into biogas. Moreover, we study the effects of minimally-treated recycled food processing effluents on soil and crops. Our research initiatives are coupled with a strong drive to educate our upcoming scientists and engineers.

Directory

Christopher W. Simmons, Ph. D.

Professor and Department Chair

Jesus Dionisio Fernandez Bayo, Ph. D.

Assistant Researcher

Sara Pace, Ph. D.

Postdoctoral Scholar

Emily Shea

Postdoctoral Scholar

Food

Resource Efficiency in Food Processing

Learn all about our research

Project

U.S. EPA P3 Project

Student project regarding high solids anaerobic digestion

Learn More

Deconstruction: Unlocking sugars from food processing residues for biofuel production

Biogas: Generating gaseous biofuels from food processing residues

Sustainable Food Waste Management: Recycling residues from food processing back to agriculture

Latest Publications

Allison, B.J.; C.W. Simmons. 2018. Obtaining Multiple Coproducts from Red Grape Pomace via Anthocyanin Extraction and Biogas Production. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 66 (30): 8045-8053.	open...
Achmon, Y.; M. Achmon; F.R. Dowdy; O. Spiegel; J.T. Claypool; J. Toniato; C.W. Simmons. 2018. Understanding the Anthropocene through the lens of landfill microbiomes. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 16 (6): 354-360.	open...
Dowdy, F.R.; R. Kawakita; M. Lange; C.W. Simmons. 2018. Meta-analysis of Microbial Fuel Cells Using Waste Substrates. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 185 (1): 221-232.	open...
Achmon, Y.; N. Sade; M. del Mar; R. Wilhelmi; J.D. Fernández-Bayo; D.R. Harrold; J.J. Stapleton; J.S. VanderGheynst; E. Blumwald; C.W. Simmons. 2018. The effects of short-term biosolarization using mature compost and industrial tomato waste amendments on the generation and persistence of biocidal soil conditions and subsequent tomato growth. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 66 (22): 5451-5461.	open...
Fernandez-Bayo, J.D.; R. Yazdanic; C.W. Simmons; Jean.S. VanderGheynst. 2018. Comparison of thermophilic anaerobic and aerobic treatment processes for stabilization of green and food wastes and production of soil amendments. Waste Management 77: 555-564.	open...