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Environmental Fate of Nanoparticles Depends on the Water Carrying Them
- Article from:
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Chemical Engineering Progress
- Article date:
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June 1, 2008
- Author:
- Shelley, Suzanne
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Copyright informationCopyright American Institute of Chemical Engineers Jun 2008. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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NANOTECHNOLOGY
The fate of carbon-based nanoparticles spilled into groundwater - and the ability of municipal filtration systems to remove the nanoparticles from drinking water - depend on subtle differences in the solution properties of the water carrying the particles, a new study has found.
In slightly salty water, for example, clusters of Carbon 60 (C60) tend to adhere tightly to soil or filtration system particles. Unlike natural organic compounds or chemical surfactants that serve as stabilizers in water, the C60 fullerene particles tend to flow as easily as the water carrying them.
"In some cases, the nanoparticles move very little and you would get complete retention in the soil," ...