Jacob King

Dr. Jacob (Jack) King is a Pittsburgh native and joined Pitt in September 2025. The King group aims to develop decentralized technologies to achieve a circular water economy by eliminating contaminants and recovering nutrients and critical minerals from waste streams. The group particularly focuses on electrochemical systems – which do not require chemical inputs, are modular, and can be remotely operated. Projects include destruction and sensing of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and selective separation of ionic chemical species in wastewater.

  • B.S., Environmental Engineering, Duke University, 2016
  • M.S., Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, 2017
  • PhD, Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, 2022

  • LaPier, J.K., Liu, Y.J., King, J.F., Béguerie, T., Nzihou, A., & Mitch, W.A. (2026). Electrochemical Debromination of Brominated Aromatic Flame Retardants Using Activated Carbon-Based Cathodes. Environ Sci Technol, 60(1), 1346-1356.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c03324.
  • King, J.F., & Chaplin, B.P. (2024). Electrochemical reduction of perand polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS): is it possible? Applying experimental and quantum mechanical insights from the reductive defluorination literature. CURRENT OPINION IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, 44.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.coche.2024.101014.
  • King, J.F.F., & Mitch, W.A.A. (2024). Electrochemical reduction of halogenated organic contaminants using carbon-based cathodes: A review. CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 54(4), 342-367.Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.1080/10643389.2023.2239130.
  • King, J.F., & Mitch, W.A. (2022). Electrochemical Reduction of Halogenated Alkanes and Alkenes Using Activated Carbon-Based Cathodes. Environ Sci Technol, 56(24), 17965-17976.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05608.
  • King, J.F., Szczuka, A., Zhang, Z., & Mitch, W.A. (2020). Efficacy of ozone for removal of pesticides, metals and indicator virus from reverse osmosis concentrates generated during potable reuse of municipal wastewaters. Water Res, 176, 115744.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115744.
  • Scholes, R.C., King, J.F., Mitch, W.A., & Sedlak, D.L. (2020). Transformation of Trace Organic Contaminants from Reverse Osmosis Concentrate by Open-Water Unit-Process Wetlands with and without Ozone Pretreatment. Environ Sci Technol, 54(24), 16176-16185.American Chemical Society (ACS). doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c04406.
  • Zhang, Z., King, J.F., Szczuka, A., Chuang, Y.H., & Mitch, W.A. (2020). Pilot-scale ozone/biological activated carbon treatment of reverse osmosis concentrate: potential for synergism between nitrate and contaminant removal and potable reuse. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY, 6(5), 1421-1431.Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). doi: 10.1039/d0ew00013b.
  • King, J.F., Taggart, R.K., Smith, R.C., Hower, J.C., & Hsu-Kim, H. (2018). Aqueous acid and alkaline extraction of rare earth elements from coal combustion ash. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COAL GEOLOGY, 195, 75-83.Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2018.05.009.
headshot of Jacob King
Contact Jacob King
Assistant Professor
JFK85@pitt.edu
Civil & Environmental Engr