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Prof. Eyal Kurzbaum

Prof. Eyal Kurzbaum

Prof. Eyal Kurzbaum

Our research team is dedicated to advancing the field of water treatment, emphasizing the refinement and enhancement of processes applicable to various influents. Concurrently, our work extends into pivotal areas of environmental microbiology. This includes discovering and characterizing novel antimicrobial agents derived from microalgae and fungi, targeted specifically against phytopathogens. Additionally, we are exploring the potential of fungi, particularly Psilocybe species, in yielding psychoactive biomolecules with significant applications.

 

אייל קורדבאום
Accordion Title Areas of Interest

Areas of Interest

Our research team is dedicated to advancing the field of water treatment, emphasizing the refinement and enhancement of processes applicable to various influents. Concurrently, our work extends into pivotal areas of environmental microbiology. This includes discovering and characterizing novel antimicrobial agents derived from microalgae and fungi, targeted specifically against phytopathogens. Additionally, we are exploring the potential of fungi, particularly Psilocybe species, in yielding psychoactive biomolecules with significant applications.

 

Accordion Title Research

Research


Our research interests cover various issues related to environmental microbiology and biotechnology. Among them:

  1. Biological removal of organic contaminants and micro-pollutants from water

  2. Agricultural wastewater purification (dairy farms, fish ponds, olive mills)

  3. Removal of nitrogen compounds from water (wastewater and drinking water)

  4. Immobilization and encapsulation of microbial biomass (bacteria and fungi)

  5. Photosynthesis in plants and algae

  6. Characterization and application of antimicrobial compounds in microalgae against microrganisem (phytopathogen and clinical isolates)

  7. Removal of disinfection by-products from drinking water

  8. Exploring the potential of fungi, particularly Psilocybe species, in yielding psychoactive biomolecules with significant applications.

Accordion Title Teaching

Teaching

Environmental microbiology, Seminars, Ecotoxicology, Water supply

Accordion Title Publications

Publications

GoogleScholar:

https://scholar.google.co.il/citations?hl=en&user=wckDtHYAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate

 
Journal Publications:

  • Bar-Niv, N., Azaizeh, H., Kuc, M. E., Azerrad, S., Haj-Zaroubi, M., Menashe, O., Kurzbaum, E. (2022). Advanced oxidation process UV-H2O2 combined with biological treatment for the removal and detoxification of phenol. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 48, 102923.

  • Lew, B., Monosov, M. M., Betito, S., Vizel, N., Khan, A. A., Kurzbaum, E., Kruh, L.I., Menashe, O. (2022). High-rate ex situ and in situ treatment system for groundwater denitrification via membrane-based bacterial macro-encapsulatin. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 50, 103230.

  • Kuc, E. M., Azerrad, S., Menashe, O., Kurzbaum, E. (2022) Efficient biodegradation of phenol at high concentrations by Acinetobacter biofilm at extremely short hydraulic retention times. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 47, 102781.

  • Kurzbaum, E. (2022) The Partial Contribution of Constructed Wetland Components (Roots, Gravel, Microorganisms) in the Removal of Phenols: A Mini Review. Water, 14(4), 626.

  • Halabi, M., Silberbush, A., Azaizeh, H., Shahar, B., Kurzbaum, E. (2022) Olive mill wastewater extract as a potential mosquito larvicide. bioRxiv.

  • Shelly, Y., Kuc, E. M., Menashe, O., Zeira, G., Azerrad, S., Kurzbaum, E. (2021) Nitrate removal from a nitrate-rich reverse osmosis concentrate: Superior efficiency using the bioaugmentation of an Acinetobacter biofilm. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 44, 102425.

  • Azerrad, S. P., Kurzbaum, E. (2021). Chemical Decolorization of Textile Wastewater Via Advanced Oxidation Processes: Case Study of Key Parameters with Acid Blue 25. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 232(2), 1-14.

  • Fradkin, O., Mamane, H., Kaplan, A., Menashe, O., Kurzbaum, E., Betzalel, Y., & Avisar, D. (2021). UV-LED Combined with Small Bioreactor Platform (SBP) for Degradation of 17α-Ethynylestradiol (EE2) at Very Short Hydraulic Retention Time. Materials, 14(20), 5960.

  • Menashe, O., Rosen‐Kligvasser, J., Kurzbaum, E., & Suckeveriene, R. Y. (2021). Structural properties of a biotechnological capsule confined by a 3D‐cellulose acetate membrane. Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 32(2), 681-689.

  • Kurzbaum, E., Raizner, Y., Kuc, E. M., & Menashe, O. (2020). Small bioreactor platform capsules provide persistent digestive biomass for continuous bioreactors operated under short hydraulic retention times. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 37, 101516.

  • Shelly, Y., Kuc, E. M., Iasur-Kruh, L., Azerrad, S., & Kurzbaum, E. (2020). A new Acinetobacter isolate is an extremely efficient biofilm-formative denitrifying bacterium. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 8, 184.

  • Vaddadi, L. P., Avisar, D., Vadivel, V. K., Menashe, O., Kurzbaum, E., Cohen-Yaniv, V., Mamane, H. (2020). LP-UV-Nano MgO2 Pretreated Catalysis Followed by Small Bioreactor Platform Capsules Treatment for Superior Kinetic Degradation Performance of 17α-Ethynylestradiol. Materials, 13(1), 83.

  • Menashe O., Raizner Y., Kuc E. M., Cohen-Yaniv V., Kaplan A., Mamane H., Avisar D., Kurzbaum E. (2020) Biodegradation of the Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical 17α-Ethynylestradiol (EE2) by Rhodococcus zopfii and Pseudomonas putida Encapsulated in Small Bioreactor Platform (SBP) Capsules. Applied Sciences, 10, 336.

  • Kurzbaum E., Raizner Y., Kuc E. M., Menashe O. (2020) Small bioreactor platform capsules provide persistent digestive biomass for continuous bioreactors operated under short hydraulic retention times. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 37, 101516.

  •  Shelly Y., Kuc E. M., Iasur-Kruh, L., Azarred, S., Kurzbaum, E. (2020). A new Acinetobacter isolate is an extremely efficient biofilm-formative denitrifying bacterium. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 8, 184.‏

  • Menashe O., Rosen-Kligvasser J., Kurzbaum E., Suckeverien R. Y. (2020) Structural properties of a biotechnological capsule confined by a 3D-cellulose acetate membrane. Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 32(2), 681-689.

  • Kurzbaum, E., Iliasafov, L., Kolik, L., Starosvetsky, J., Bilanovic, D., Butnariu, M., Armon, R. (2019) From the Titanic and other shipwrecks to biofilm prevention: The interesting role of polyphenol-protein complexes in biofilm inhibition. Science of the Total Environment, 658, 1098-1105.

  • Eckert, W, Leunert, F., Yacobi, YZ, Köhler, J. Kurzbaum, E. (2019) Diurnal changes of the delayed fluorescence integral from a Chlorella vulgaris culture under ambient light. Photosynthetica, 

  • Cohen O., Pua B., Gamliel A., Katan J., Kurzbaum E., Weber G., Schubert I., Riov J. (2019) Rain-based soil solarization for reducing the persistent seed banks of invasive plants in natural ecosystems - Acacia saligna as a model. Pest Management Science.

  • Kurzbaum E., Bar-Shalom O. (2019). Phosphate removal from dairy wastewater and domestic effluents. Horizons in Geography, 95 (in Hebrew).

  • Bar-Oz Y., Mamane H., Menashe O., Cohen-Yaniv V., Kumar R., Iasur-Kruh L., Kurzbaum E. (2018) Treatment of olive mill wastewater using ozonation followed by an encapsulated acclimated biomass. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 6(4), 5014-5023.

  • Cohen, O., Bar-Kutiel P., Gamliel, Katan, Kurzbaum, E., Riov J. (2018) Controlling the seed bank of the invasive plant Acacia saligna: comparison of the efficacy of prescribed burning, soil solarization, and their combination. Biological Invasions 20, 2875-2887.

  • Kumar R., Raizner Y., Iasur-Kruh L., Menashe O., Azaizehe H., Kapur S., Kurzbaum E. (2018). Extracellular laccase production and phenolics degradation by an olive mill wastewater isolate. Grasas y Aceites, 69(1), 231.

  • Vardanian A., Kurzbaum E., Farber Y., Butnariu M., Armon R. (2018). Facilitated enumeration of the silicate bacterium Paenibacillus mucilaginosus comb. nov. (formerly Bacillus mucilaginosus) via tetrazolium chloride incorporation into a double agar-based solid growth medium. Folia Microbiologica, 63(3), 401–404.

  • Kurzbaum E., Raizner Y., Cohen O., Suckeveriene R. Y., Kulikov A., Hakimi B., Iasur-Kruh L., Farber Y., Armon R., Menashe O. (2017) Encapsulated Pseudomonas putida for phenol biodegradation: Use of a structural membrane for construction of a well-organized confined particle. Water research, 121, 37–45. 

  • Kurzbaum E., Raizner Y., Cohen O., Rubinstein G., Bar-Shalom O. (2017) Lanthanum-modified bentonite: Potential for efficient removal of phosphates from fish pond effluents. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24(17), 15182-15186.

  • Kurzbaum E., Aharoni A., Kirzhner F., Azov Y., Armon R. (2017) Aspects of carbon dioxide mitigation in a closed microalgae photo-bioreactor supplied with flue gas. International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 62(1), 1–16.

  • Armon R., Gold D., Zuckerman U., Kurzbaum E. (2016) Environmental Aspects of Cryptosporidium. Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Research, 3(2), 1048.

  • Kurzbaum, E., Bar-Shalom O. (2016) The potential of phosphate removal from dairy wastewater and municipal wastewater effluents using a lanthanum-modified bentonite. Applied Clay Science, 123, 182-186.

  • Kurzbaum E., Kirzhner F., Armon R. (2016) Performance comparison of plant root biofilm, gravel attached biofilm and planktonic microbial populations, in phenol removal within a constructed wetland wastewater treatment system. Water SA, 42(1), 166-170.

  • Menashe O., Kurzbaum E. (2016) A Novel Bioaugmentation Treatment Approach using a Confined Microbial Environment: A Case Study in a MBR Wastewater Treatment Plant. Environmental Technology, 37(12), 1582-1590. 

  • Azaizeh H., Kurzbaum E., Said H., Jaradat O., Menashe O. (2015) The potential of autochthonous microbial culture encapsulation in a confined environment for phenols biodegradation. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22(19), 15179-15187.

  • Menashe O., Kurzbaum E. (2014) Small-Bioreactor Platform Technology as a Municipal Wastewater Additive Treatment. Water Science and Technology, 69(3), 504-510.

  • Kurzbaum E., Kirzhner F., Armon R. (2014) A hydroponic system for growing gnotobiotic vs. sterile plants to study phytoremediation processes. International Journal of Phytoremediation, 16(3), 267-274. 

  • Kurzbaum E., Kirzhner F., Armon R. (2012) Improvement of water quality using constructed wetland systems. Reviews on Environmental Health, 27(1), 59–64.

  • Kurzbaum E., R. Armon, Y. Zimmels (2010) Isolation of a halotolerant Streptomyces sp. from a constructed wetland that biodegrade phenol and various biopolymers. Actinomycetologica, 24(2), 31–38.

  • Kurzbaum E., Zimmels Y., Kirzhner F., Armon R. (2010) Removal of phenol in a constructed wetland system and the relative contribution of plant roots, microbial activity and porous bed. Water Science and technology, 62(6), 1327-1334.

  • Kurzbaum E., Kirzhner F., Armon R. (2010) A simple method for dehydrogenase activity visualization of intact plant roots grown in soilless culture using tetrazolium violet. Plant Root, 4, 12-16.

  • Gino E., Starosvetsky J., Kurzbaum E., Armon R. (2010) Combined chemical-biological treatment for prevention/rehabilitation of clogged wells by an iron-oxidizing bacterium. Environmental Science and Technology, 44(8), 3123–3129.

  • Kurzbaum E., Kirzhner F., Sela S., Armon R. (2010) Efficiency of phenol biodegradation by planktonic Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes (a constructed wetland isolate) vs. root and gravel biofilm. Water Research, 44(17), 5021-5031.

  • Kurzbaum E., Beer S., Eckert W. (2010) Alterations in delayed and direct phytoplankton fluorescence in response to the diurnal light cycle. Hydrobiologia, 639(1), 197-203.

  • Kurzbaum E., Eckert W., Yacobi Y. Z. (2007) Delayed fluorescence as a direct indicator of diurnal variation in quantum and radiant energy utilization efficiencies of phytoplankton. Photosynthetica, 45(4), 562-567.

Other Works and Publications:

  • Maman H, Bar Oz Y., Kurzbaum E., Menashe O. (2018) A new method to treat olive mill wastewater. Handasat Maim, 117, 30-32.

  • Kurzbaum E., Robinshtain G. Bar Shalom O. (2017). Phosphate removal from fish pond wastewater using Phoslock clay. Maim Vehashkaia, 550, 12-14 (in Hebrew).

  • Kurzbaum E., Bar Shalom O. (2016). Phosphate removal from dairy wastewater. Eretz ha Kinneret, 16, 30-31 (in Hebrew).

  • Kurzbaum E. (2015) Bioluminescence in the nature. MAKO website, published on 9.4.15 (in Hebrew).

  • Kurzbaum E., Yacobi Y.Z., Eckert W. (2014) A novel in situ profiler for phytoplankton photosynthesis measurement. Eretz ha Kinneret, 14, 30-33 (in Hebrew).

  • Kurzbaum E., Yacobi Y.Z., Eckert W. (2013) Development of a novel delayed- fluorescence based in situ profiler for phytoplankton activity measurement. Kinneret News (Rimer A. Ed.), 34. (in Hebrew).

  • Kurzbaum E., S. Beer, W. Eckert (2005) The Delayed fluorescence and the prompt fluorescence in Phytoplankton and their relationships. Kinneret News (Rimer A. Ed.), 28, 7-13. (in Hebrew).

Chapters in Scientific Books:

  • Kurzbaum E. (2009): Delayed fluorescence spectroscopy as a simple and rapid measurement tool for active chlorophyll concentrations, phytoplankton compositions and a possible tool for monitoring photosynthetic traits of phytoplankton. In: Marine Phytoplankton, (William T. Kersey and Samuel P. Munger Eds.), Nova Science Publishers Inc., Hauppauge, NY, USA (pp. 351-354).

Patents:

  • "Methods and systems for treating liquids including contaminant molecules" (PCT/IB2018/050990; US20210047216A1; PCT Filed 7.2.2019, PCT/IB2019/ 050990).
    Inventors: Kurzbaum Eyal, Menashe Ofir, Maman Hadas, Dror Avisar.

Accordion Title Prof. Eyal Kurzbaum CV

Prof. Eyal Kurzbaum CV

Document name: Dr. Eyal Kurzbaum CV
Dr. Eyal Kurzbaum CV (797.89 KB)
Accordion Title Presentations

Presentations

  1.      December 2006; Kinneret researches conference, Emek Hayarden, Israel. The Delayed fluorescence and the prompt fluorescence in Phytoplankton and the relationships between them. Kurzbaum E., S. Beer, W. Eckert. (Oral)
  2.       May 2006; The Third Annual Meeting of the Israeli Association for Aquatic Studies, Haifa University, Israel. The relationships between delayed and prompt fluorescence in monitoring photosynthetic traits of phytoplankton. Kurzbaum E., S. Beer, W. Eckert. (Poster)
  3.      July 2006; 60th Annual Meeting, Phycologycal Society of America (PSA), Juneau, Alaska, USA: The relationships between delayed and prompt fluorescence in monitoring photosynthetic traits of phytoplankton. Kurzbaum E., S. Beer, W. Eckert. (Poster)
  4.       November 2008; The 15th Workshop of the International Association of Phytoplankton Taxonomy and Ecology (IAP), Ramot, Israel: The relationships between delayed and prompt fluorescence in monitoring photosynthetic traits of phytoplankton. Kurzbaum E., S. Beer, W. Eckert. (Poster)
  5.       March 2009; Annual Meeting of the Israel Society for Microbiology (ISM), Bar Ilan University, Israel: A halotolerant Streptomyces sp., isolated from rhizosphere of a constructed wetland, biodegrades agar, agarose, chitin, polypectate, gellan gum, and phenol. Kurzbaum E., R. Armon, Y. Zimmels. (Poster)
  6.      May 2009; 37th Annual Meeting of the Israeli Society of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel: A halotolerant Streptomyces sp., isolated from rhizosphere of a constructed wetland, biodegrades agar, agarose, chitin, polypectate, gellan gum, and phenol. Kurzbaum E., R. Armon, Y. Zimmels. (Poster)
  7.       February 2010; Annual Meeting of the Israel Society for Microbiology (ISM), Bar Ilan University, Israel: The fate of phenol in a constructed wetland mesocosm: microbiology, abiotic and plant uptake processes. Kurzbaum E., Y. Zimmels, R. Armon. (Poster)
  8.      March 2010; Annual Meeting of the Israeli water association, Kfar Maccabiah, Israel: The specific contribution of plants, microbial activity, and porous bed to phenol removal in constructed wetlands. Kurzbaum E., Y. Zimmels, F. Kirzhner and R. Armon. (Poster)
  9.      April 2010; The Water Research Conference, Lisbon, Portugal: Phenol utilization rate of root-attached, gravel-attached, and planktonic Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes isolated from a constructed wetland system. Kurzbaum E., Armon R. (Poster)
  10.  June 2010; 38th Annual Meeting of the Israeli Society of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Israel: What is the environmental fate of phenol in constructed wetland systems and where do most bacteria present: on the plant roots, on the gravel or in the water (planktonic)?. Kurzbaum E., Y. Zimmels, F. Kirzhner and R. Armon. (Poster)
  11. June 2012; The 9th Annual Meeting of the Israeli Association for Aquatic Sciences, Kinneret Academic College, Israel: Fluorescence and primary productivity. Kurzbaum E., S. Beer, W. Eckert. (Poster)
  12. October 2012; 12th BMBF-MOST Seminar, Haifa, Israel: Development and implementation of a novel delayed- fluorescence based in situ profiler for primary production in aquatic systems. E. Kurzbaum, Y.Z. Yacobi, F. Leunert, J. Köhler, W. Eckert. (Oral)
  13. November 2012; Kinneret researches conference, ILOR, Haifa, Israel. The use of delayed- fluorescence as a monitoring tool for phytoplankton activity in aquatic systems. E. Kurzbaum, Y.Z. Yacobi, W. Eckert. (Oral)
  14.   April 2014; Annual Meeting of the Israel Society for Microbiology (ISM), Haifa, Israel: Small-bioreactor platform technology in the wastewater treatment process. Kurzbaum E., Menashe O. (Poster)
  15.   April 2014; Annual Meeting of the Israel Society for Microbiology (ISM), Haifa, Israel: small bioreactor platform (SBP) technology postulate new opportunities for research and industry. Menashe O., Kurzbaum E. (Poster)
  16.   April 2014; Annual Meeting of the Israeli water association, Kfar Maccabiah, Israel: Small-Bioreactor Platform Technology as a Municipal Wastewater Additive Treatment. Kurzbaum E., Menashe O. (Poster)
  17.   February 2015; Annual Meeting of the Israel Society for Microbiology (ISM), Bar Ilan University, Israel: The potential of autochthonous microbial culture encapsulation in a confine environment for phenols biodegradation. Kurzbaum E., Azaizeh H, Menashe O. (Poster)
  18.  February 2016; Annual Meeting of the Israel Society for Microbiology (ISM), Bar Ilan University, Israel: Performance comparison of plant root biofilm, gravel attached biofilm and planktonic microbial populations, in phenol removal within a constructed wetland wastewater treatment system. Kurzbaum E. (Poster)
  19.   February 2016; The 21st International Symposium Aquaculture In Israel, Nir Atzion, Israel: Phosphorus removal from fish pond water. Kurzbaum E. (Oral)
  20.   March 2016; The 21st Israel Association of Water Resources conference (E.Y.A.L), Haspin, Israel: Phosphorus removal from dairy, fish pond and effluents using adsorption for sustainable agriculture. Kurzbaum E. (Oral)
  21.   May 2016; Aquaculture research meeting, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Israel: Phosphorus removal from fish pond water for sustainable aquaculture. Kurzbaum E. (Oral)
  22.   September 2016; BIOREACTOR PERFORMANCE of the European Society on Biochemical Engineering Science, Bol, Croatia: Microbial culture encapsulation for phenols biodegradation. Kurzbaum E. (Oral)
  23.   September 2016; WORKING GROUP ON BIOREACTOR PERFORMANCE of the European Society on Biochemical Engineering Science, Bol, Croatia: The potential of culture encapsulation in a 3D microfiltration membrane capsules (SBP) for biodegradation. Kurzbaum E., Azaizeh H, Menashe O. (Poster)
  24.   Oct 2016; Multidisciplinary scientific conference: Agriculture and Environment in the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon - innovations in research, Ohalo Academic College, Israel: Phosphorus removal from dairy, fish pond and effluents in the Golan using adsorption and sedimentation. Kurzbaum E. (Oral)
  25.   February 2017; Day of fishery research lectures, Fishery department, The Ministry of Agriculture, Gilboa, Israel: Phosphorus removal from fish pond water. Kurzbaum E. (Oral)
  26.    March 2017; Annual Meeting of the Israel Society for Microbiology (ISM), Vulcani center, Israel: Encapsulated Pseudomonas putida for phenol biodegradation: Use of a structural membrane for construction of a well-organized confined particle. Kurzbaum E., Yasmin Raizner, Ran Y. Suckeveriene, Lilach Iasur Kruh, Ofir Menashe (poster)
  27.  March 2017; Annual Meeting of the Israel Society for Microbiology (ISM), Vulcani center, Israel: will an apple a day keep the doctor away, an affective biodegradation of morpholine. Rupak Kumar, Kurzbaum E. (poster)
  28.   May 2017; The 22nd Israel Association of Water Resources conference (E.Y.A.L), Aco, Israel: Phenol biodegradation by bacterial cultures encapsulated in 3D microfiltration-membrane capsules. Kurzbaum E., Yasmin Raizner, Ran Y. Suckeveriene, Lilach Iasur Kruh, Ofir Menashe (poster)
Accordion Title Link to

Link to

Kurzbaum Lab - Website

Shamir res. ins. Website

ResearchGate

Google Scholar