Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Particle size,
nm
Separation
Process
Nanomaterial
RO
0.1
NF
1
C60
NT
UF
10
TiO
2
Ag
nZVI
100
MF
1,000
10,000
Notes: RO = reverse osmosis, NF = nanofiltration, UF = ultrafiltration,
MF = microfiltration, C60 = fullerene, nZVI = zero valent iron,
NT = nanotube,TiO
2
= titanium dioxide, Ag = silver
FiguRe .
Applicability.of.membrane.separation.processes.relative.to.nanoparticle.size..
(From.References.9,.25,.33,.and.35-37.)
exist,.and.manufacturers'.need.to.protect.conidential.business.information.can.limit.
access.to.relevant.data.
Many.initial.concerns.about.the.end-of-life.fate.of.nanomaterials.focus.on.waste-
water. treatment.. Initial. research. shows. some. potential. for. removal. in. various. unit.
processes..The.extent.of.that.removal,.and.the.potential.toxic.effects.of.those.nanoma-
terials,.vary.substantially.between.materials..Particle.size,.concentration,.and.surface.
properties,.as.well.as.the.other.characteristics.of.the.wastewater,.can.affect.removal.
ReFeRenCes
.
1.. The. Royal. Society. and. the. Royal. Academy. of. Engineering.. 2004
. Nanoscience and
Nanotechnologies: Possible Adverse Health, Environmental and Safety Impacts
,.
Chapter.5..July..http://www.nanotec.org.uk/report/chapter5.pdf..(Accessed.September.
18,.2007)
.
2.. Dunphy.Guzman,.K.A.,.M.R..Taylor,.and.J.F..Banield..2006..Environmental.risks.of.
nanotechnology:. National. Nanotechnology. Initiative. funding,. 2000-2004..
Environ.
Sci. Technol.,
40:1401-1407.
.
3.. Ganesh,.R..and.L.Y.C..Leong..2006..Potential.impacts.of.nanoparticles.on.water.rec-
lamation.. http://www.deq.state.va.us/wastewater/documents/PotentialImpacesofNano.
particlesonWaterReclamation.pdf..(Accessed.September.24,.2007)
.
4.. U.S..Environmental.Protection.Agency..2007..
USEPA Nanotechnology White Paper.
.
EPA.100/B-07/001.
.
5.. Westerhoff,. P.,. T.. Alford,. and. B.. Rittman.. 2007.. EPA. grant. description:. Biologi-
cal. fate. and. electron. microscopy. detection. of. nanoparticles. during. wastewater.
treatment.. http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.abstract-
Detail/abstract/8402/report/0..(Accessed.September.23,.2007)
