Jim F. Barker

Professor Emeritus, Groundwater (organic pollutants)
Jim Barker

Jim Barker'sÌýresearch focuses on groundwater contamination by organic chemicals, especially petroleum hydrocarbons and industrial chemicals.Ìý

A faculty member at the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ since 1979, he retired in 2010.

During Professor Barker's career, heÌý developed novel clean-up technologies at theÌýBorden Research Aquifer Facilities. He was also involved in research on water quality issues for the development of Canada’s oil sands.

Contact information
Office: EITÌý2023
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 32103
Email: jfbarker@uwaterloo.ca

Expertise
  • Groundwater contamination and sub-surface migration of organic andÌýpetroleum chemicals
  • Water quality issues involving Canada'sÌýoil sandsÌý

Research

ProfessorÌýBarker's research has highlighted the groundwater behaviour of gasoline-additives,ÌýmethylÌýtert-butyl ether (MTBE) and ethanol. His research hasÌýbeen aimed at evaluatingÌýwhat influence ethanol in gasoline will have on:

  1. the distribution of gasoline residuals when ethanol fuels are spilled into gasoline residuals;
  2. migration and natural attenuation of ethanol and aromatic hydrocarbon;
  3. and in situ bioremediation of aromatics and ethanol.

ProfessorÌýBarkerÌýhas served on Suncor Energy’s oil sands Mining Development and Reclamation Review Board where he provided review and advice, especially for water challenges to Suncor’s oil sand mining operations near Ft. McMurray, AB.

He has also beenÌýinvolved inÌýinternational collaborative research projects in Iran, Spain, Mexico, Italy, Brazil, mostly dealing with groundwater contaminated by industrial chemicals.

Among other awards, Professor Barker wasÌýhonouredÌýwith theÌý2014 Robert N.ÌýFarvoldenÌýAward for his work.

Highlighted Publications

ProfessorÌýBarker has published more than 85Ìýpeer-reviewed publications.ÌýRecent articles include

  • Kanwartej S. Sra,ÌýNeil R. ThomsonÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýJim F. Barker, 2010ÌýPersistence of Persulfate in Uncontaminated Aquifer Materials. Environmental Science and Technology..
  • Forsey, S., Thomson, N., Barker, J., 2009. Oxidation kinetics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by permanganate. Chemosphere.
  • Freitas, J.G., B. Fletcher, R. Aravena and J.F. Barker. 2009. Methane production and isotopic fingerprinting in ethanol fuel contaminated sites. Ground Water.
  • Yasuda, N., Thomson, N. R., Barker, J. F., 2009. Performance evaluation of a tailings pond seepage collection system. Can. Geotech. J.
  • Lambert, J.M., Yang, T., Thomson, N.R. and Barker, J.F., 2009. Pulsed biosparging of a residual fuel source emplaced at CFB Borden. International Journal of Soil, Sediment and Water.
  • Ferguson, G. P., Rudolph, D. L., Barker, J. F.,Ìý2009. Hydrodynamics of a large oil sands tailings impoundment and related environmental implications. Can. Geotech. Jour.

Professional Associations and Service
  • Geological Association of Canada
  • The Canadian Geotechnical Society
  • The International Association of Hydrogeologists (Canadian Chapter)
  • The National Ground Water Association (U.S.)
  • Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario

Media

August 18, 2014ÌýJim Barker wins the 2014 Robert N. Farvolden Award