Wei Zheng

Research Chemist

wzheng@istc.illinois.edu
217.333.7276

Dr. Zheng is a Research Chemist (Associate Professional Scientist) at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center. Prior to joining the Center, he worked as a Project Scientist at University of California, Riverside (UCR) and USDA-ARS, Salinity Laboratory. His researches involve two classes of chemical contaminants: one is priority contaminates such as pesticides, perchlorate, and other toxic chemicals; another is potential environmental contaminates such as pharmaceuticals and personal-care products (PPCPs) including antibiotics, hormones, and their metabolites. He earned a Ph.D in Environmental Chemistry from Zhejiang University (China). Dr. Zheng was awarded the 2004 “Young Scientist Research Recognition Award” by the Agrochemical Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS) as a first-place winner.

Research Interests

• Process Research: Biodiesel and Cellulosic Ethanol
  
• Environmental Research: Environmental Fate and transport of Chemical Contaminants; Detoxification and Remediation; Occurrence of New Anthropogenic Contaminants in the Environment; Contaminant Processes in Ecosystems; Water Quality Chemistry
  
• Nano-Engineering in Agriculture
  
• Method Development for Trace Contaminant Analysis
  
• Food Quality Analysis: Antioxidant

Selected Publications (From 40+ publications)

1. Wei Zheng, Scott R. Yates, Scott, A. Bradford. Analysis of steroid hormones in a typical dairy waste disposal system. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008, 42, 530-535.
2. Wei Zheng, Jay Gan, Sharon K. Papiernik, Scott R. Yates. Identification of volatile/semi-volatile products derived from chemical remediation of cis-1,3-dichloropropene by thiosulfate. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2007. 41, 6454-6459.
3. Y. Zheng, Chien Y. Wang CY, Shiow Y. Wang, Wei Zheng. Changes in strawberry phenolics, anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity in response to high oxygen treatments. Food Sci. Technol. 2007. 40 (1), 49-57.
4. Wei Zheng, Scott R. Yates, Sharon K. Papiernik. Reducing Fumigant Emission from Soil Columns with a Simulated Reactive Surface Barrier. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2006. 40, 2402-2407.
5. Wei Zheng, Scott R. Yates, Sharon K. Papiernik, Minxing Guo. Dechlorination of chloropicrin and 1,3-dichloropropene by bisulfide: Redox and nuclephilic substitution reaction. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2006, 54, 2280-2287.
6. Wei Zheng, Scott R. Yates, Sharon K. Papiernik. Conversion of metam sodium and emission of fumigant from soil columns. Atmos. Environ. 2006, 40, 7046-7056.
7. S. Bondarenko, Wei Zheng, S. R. Yates, J. Gan. Dehalogenated fumigants by polysulfide salts. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2006, 54, 5503-5508.
8. W. Liu, Wei Zheng, Y. Ma, K. Liu. Sorption and degradation of imidacloprid in soil and water. J. Environ. Sc. Health Part B. 2006. 41, 623-634.
9. Qiquan Wang, Scott A. Bradford, Wei Zheng, Scott R. Yates. Sulfadimethoxine degradation in manure as affected by initial concentration, moisture, and temperature. J. Environ. Quality. 2006, 35, 2162-2169.
10. Wei Zheng, Sharon K. Papiernik, Minxing Guo, Scott R. Yates. Construction of a Reactive Surface Barrier to Reduce 1,3-Dichloropropene Emissions. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2005. 24(8). 1867-1874.
11. Wang, S. Y. and Wei. Zheng. Preharvest application of methyl jasmonate increases fruit quality and antioxidant capacity in raspberries. International Food Science and Technology. 2005. 40, 187-195.
12. Mingxin Guo, Scott R. Yates, Sharon K. Papiernik, Wei Zheng. Incompatibility of metam sodium with halogenated fumigants . Pest Mange. Sci. 2005, 61, 467-476.
13. Wei Zheng, Scott R. Yates, Sharon K. Papiernik, Minxing Guo. Transformation of herbicide propachlor by an agrochemical thiourea. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2004. 38, 6855-6860.
14. Wei Zheng, Sharon K. Papiernik, Minxing Guo, Scott R. Yates. Remediation of methyl iodide in aqueous solution and amended soils with thiourea. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2004, 38, 1188-1194.
15. Wei Zheng, Scott R. Yates, Sharon K. Papiernik, Minxing Guo. Effect of combined application of methyl isothiocyanate and chloropicrin on their transformation. J. Environ. Qual. 2004, 33, 2157-2164.
16. Wei Zheng, Scott R. Yates, Minxing Guo, Sharon K. Papiernik, Jung Ho Kim. 2004. Transformation of chloropicrin and 1,3-dichloropropene by metam sodium in a combined application of fumigants. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2004, 52, 3002-3009.
17. Wei Zheng, Weiping Liu, Yuezhong Wen and Sangjin Lee. Photochemistry of insecticide imidacloprid: direct and sensitized photolysis in aqueous medium. J. Environ. Sci. 2004, 16, 539-542.
18. Minxing Guo, Wei Zheng, Scott R. Yates, Sharon K. Papiernik. Distribution and leaching of methyl iodide in soil following emulated shank and drip application. J. Environ. Qual. 2004, 33, 2149-2156.
19. Sharon K. Papiernik, Robert S. Dungan, Wei Zheng, Minxing Guo, Scott R. Yates. Effect of Application Variables on Emissions of Fumigants Applied via Subsurface Drip Irrigation. J. Environ. Qual. 2004, 38, 5489-5496.
20. Sharon K. Papiernik, Scott R. Yates, Robert S. Dungan, Wei Zheng, Minxing Guo. Effect of Surface Tarp on Emissions and Distribution of Drip-Applied Fumigants. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2004, 38, 4254-4262.
21. Mingxin Guo, Sharon K. Papiernik, Wei Zheng, and Scott R. Yates. Effects of environmental factors on 1,3-dichloropropene hydrolysis in water and soil. J. Environ. Qual. 2004, 33, 612-618
22. Sharon K. Papiernik, F. F. Ernst, R. S. Dungan, Wei Zheng, M. Guo, and Scott R. Yates. 2004. Remediation of halogenated fumigant compounds in the root zone by subsurface application of ammonium thiosulfate. In J. Gan, P. Zhu, S. D. Aust, and A.T. Lemly (eds.) Pesticide decontamination and detoxification. ACS symposium Series 863:169-179. ACS, Washington, DC.
23. Wei Zheng, Sharon K. Papiernik, Minxing Guo, Scott R. Yates. Competitive degradation between fumigants chloropicrin and 1,3-dichloropropene in unamended and Amended soils. J. Environ. Qual. 2003, 32, 1733-1742.
24. Wei Zheng, Sharon K. Papiernik, Minxing Guo, Scott R. Yates. Accelerated Degradation of Methyl Iodide by Agrochemicals. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2003, 51, 673-679
25. Wei Zheng, Shiow Y. Oxygen radical absorbing capacity of phenolic in blueberries, cranberries, chokeberries, and lingonberries. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2003, 51, 502-509.
26. Mingxin Guo, Sharon K. Papiernik, Wei Zheng, and Scott R. Yates. Formation and Extraction of Persistent Fumigant Residues in Soils. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2003, 37, 1844-1849.
27. Mingxin Guo, Sharon K. Papiernik, Wei Zheng, and Scott R. Yates. Leaching Potential of persistent soil fumigant residues. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2003, 37, 5181-5185.
28. Y. Zheng, Chien Y. Wang CY, Shiow Y. Wang, Wei Zheng. Effect of high-oxygen atmospheres on blueberry phenolics, anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2003, 51, 7162-7169.
29. Weiping Liu, Wei Zheng, Jianying Gan. Competitive sorption between imidacloprid and imidacloprid-urea on soil clay mineral and humic acids. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2002, 50,6823.
30. Shiow Y. Wang, Wei Zheng, Gene J. Galletta. Cultural system affects fruit quality and antioxidant capacity in strawberries. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2002, 50, 6534-6542
31. Wei Zheng, Shiow Y. Wang. Antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds in selected herbs. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2001, 49, 5165-5170.
32. Shiow Y. Wang, Wei Zheng. Effect of growing temperature on antioxidant capacity of strawberry. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2001,49, 4977-4982
33. Liu, Wei-Ping; Liu, Hui-Jun; Zheng, Wei; Lu, Jian-Hang. Adsorption of chloroacetanilide herbicides on soil (I) structural influence of chloroacetanilide herbicide for their adsorption on soils and its components. J. Environ. Sci. 2001, 13:37-45.
34. Wei Zheng, Weiping Liu. Kinetics and mechanism of the hydrolysis of imidacloprid. Pest. Sci. 1999, 55:482-485.
35. Yiming Xu, Wei Zheng, Weiping Liu. Enhanced photocatalytic activity of supported TiO2: dispersing effect of SiO2. J. Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry. 1999, 122:57-60.