<PAGE>

                                                                      Exhibit 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Robert S. Hillas and Mark J. Maten, or
either of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, to do any and all acts, including
the execution of documents, which said attorneys, or either of them, may deem
necessary or advisable to enable Envirogen, Inc. (the "Company") to comply with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with
the filing under such Act of an annual report of the Company on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2000, including the power and authority to sign in
the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all capacities in which
the signature of the undersigned would be appropriate, such annual report and
any and all amendments thereto and generally to do and perform all things
necessary to be done in the premises as fully and effectually in all respects as
the undersigned could do if personally present.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereto set his or her hand this
19th day of March, 2001.

                                         /s/ William R. Cook
                                         --------------------------
                                           William R. Cook

                                      59
<PAGE>

                                                                      Exhibit 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Robert S. Hillas and Mark J. Maten, or
either of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, to do any and all acts, including
the execution of documents, which said attorneys, or either of them, may deem
necessary or advisable to enable Envirogen, Inc. (the "Company") to comply with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with
the filing under such Act of an annual report of the Company on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2000, including the power and authority to sign in
the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all capacities in which
the signature of the undersigned would be appropriate, such annual report and
any and all amendments thereto and generally to do and perform all things
necessary to be done in the premises as fully and effectually in all respects as
the undersigned could do if personally present.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereto set his or her hand this
19th day of March, 2001.

                                        /s/ Robert F. Hendrickson
                                        -------------------------
                                           Robert F. Hendrickson

                                      60
<PAGE>

                                                                      Exhibit 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Robert S. Hillas and Mark J. Maten, or
either of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, to do any and all acts, including
the execution of documents, which said attorneys, or either of them, may deem
necessary or advisable to enable Envirogen, Inc. (the "Company") to comply with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with
the filing under such Act of an annual report of the Company on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2000, including the power and authority to sign in
the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all capacities in which
the signature of the undersigned would be appropriate, such annual report and
any and all amendments thereto and generally to do and perform all things
necessary to be done in the premises as fully and effectually in all respects as
the undersigned could do if personally present.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereto set his or her hand this
19th day of March, 2001.

                                        /s/ Robert F. Johnston
                                        ----------------------
                                           Robert F. Johnston

                                      61
<PAGE>

                                                                      Exhibit 24


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Robert S. Hillas and Mark J. Maten, or
either of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, to do any and all acts, including
the execution of documents, which said attorneys, or either of them, may deem
necessary or advisable to enable Envirogen, Inc. (the "Company") to comply with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with
the filing under such Act of an annual report of the Company on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2000, including the power and authority to sign in
the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all capacities in which
the signature of the undersigned would be appropriate, such annual report and
any and all amendments thereto and generally to do and perform all things
necessary to be done in the premises as fully and effectually in all respects as
the undersigned could do if personally present.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereto set his or her hand this
19th day of March, 2001.

                                        /s/ Peter J. Neff
                                        -----------------
                                        Peter J. Neff

                                      62
<PAGE>

                                                                      Exhibit 24


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Robert S. Hillas and Mark J. Maten, or
either of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, to do any and all acts, including
the execution of documents, which said attorneys, or either of them, may deem
necessary or advisable to enable Envirogen, Inc. (the "Company") to comply with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with
the filing under such Act of an annual report of the Company on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2000, including the power and authority to sign in
the name and on behalf of the undersigned, in any and all capacities in which
the signature of the undersigned would be appropriate, such annual report and
any and all amendments thereto and generally to do and perform all things
necessary to be done in the premises as fully and effectually in all respects as
the undersigned could do if personally present.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereto set his or her hand this
19th day of March, 2001.

                                        /s/ William C. Smith
                                        --------------------
                                          William C. Smith

                                      63