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Sofia Semitsoglou Tsiapou

Sofia Semitsoglou Tsiapou

Environmental Chemist
Travis Meador Group

ORCID: 0000-0001-7513-7421
Researcher ID: Q-2701-2018

Soil & Water Research Infrastructure

  • Biology Centre CAS
  • Na Sádkách 7, 370 05 České Budějovice
  • Czech Republic

I am a chemist, with a specialization in analytical and environmental chemistry. I obtained my PhD degree in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, having worked on pesticide degradation in drinking water via the UV/H2O2 process. I have acquired an in-depth knowledge of water chemistry, radical and oxidation chemistry, photo-chemistry, water treatment processes and especially Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) regarding the degradation of micro-pollutants. I have lived and worked within research teams in Greece, United Kingdom and the Netherlands, in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environments. I have trained and supervised three students, two for Master thesis and one for internship purposes. Currently, I am a PostDoctoral Researcher at the SoWa Department of the Biology Centre CAS in České Budějovice (Czech Republic) and a member of Travis Meador’s team. My work at SoWa will mainly involve the study of degradation pathways and turnover of carotenoids in order to investigate their diagenetic products and their potential to serve as biomarkers of recalcitrant organic matter in aquatic systems.

Education and Academic Positions

  • 2018-present: PostDoctoral Researcher, Biology Centre CAS, SoWa Department (České Budějovice, Czech Republic)
  • 2017: PhD in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, collaboration between Imperial College London (London, UK) and water institute Wetsus (Leeuwarden, the Netherlands)
  • 2012: MSc in Environmental Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Chemistry (Thessaloniki, Greece)
  • 2010: BSc in Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Chemistry (Thessaloniki, Greece)

Research Interests

  • Advanced oxidation processes in water treatment
  • Drinking water quality monitoring
  • Photochemical oxidation of micropollutants
  • Novel analytical techniques for emerging micropollutants

Expertise

  • In-depth knowledge of chemical analysis techniques (LC-MS/MS, HPLC, GC-MS, TOC, IC, UV-Vis spectroscopy)
  • Expertise in organic chemistry reactions, radical-assisted degradation mechanisms and UV-based photo-chemistry
  • Profound understanding of water chemistry and drinking water treatment processes
  • Extensive knowledge on Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs)
  • Basic knowledge on pesticide control and toxicity assessments

Supervision activities

  • 2016: Supervision for Master Thesis of student (subsequent co-authorship)
  • 2015: Supervision for internship of student
  • 2014: Supervision for Master Thesis of student (subsequent co-authorship)

Scientific Activities

  • 11/2015: Presenter at ”Water Quality Technology Conference (WQTC, AWWA)”, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
  • 05/2015: Poster at ”UV Research Frontiers Conference”, International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA), Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
  • 12/2013: Poster at “Ultraviolet Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs): International Experience and Perspectives”, Imperial College, London, UK

Publications

Semitsoglou-Tsiapou, S., Templeton, M.R., Graham, N.J.D., Hernández Leal, L., Martijn, B.J., Royce, A., Kruithof, J.C., 2016. Low pressure UV/H2O2 treatment for the degradation of the pesticides metaldehyde, clopyralid and mecoprop – kinetics and reaction product formation. Water Research, 91, 285-294.

Semitsoglou-Tsiapou, S., Mous, A., Templeton, M.R., Graham, N.J.D., Hernández Leal, L., Kruithof, J.C., 2016. The role of natural organic matter in nitrite formation by LP-UV/H2O2 treatment of nitrate-rich water. Water Research, 106, 312-319.

Semitsoglou-Tsiapou, S., Templeton, M.R., Graham, N.J.D., Mandal, S. Hernández Leal, L., Kruithof, J.C., 2018. Potential formation of mutagenicity by low pressure-UV/H2O2 during the treatment of nitrate-rich source waters. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, DOI: 10.1039/C7EW00389G.

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19/08/2021

Photochemical (UV–vis/H2O2) degradation of carotenoids: Kinetics and molecular end products

Carbon in the land, air and water are interconnected. A significant amount of carbon stored in aquatic environments is thought to derive from...