NIRT: Targeted Delivery and Microbial Interactions of
Polymer-Functionalized Nanoparticles for Groundwater
Contaminant Source-Zone Remediation
Funding Agency
National Science Foundation
August 1, 2006-July 31, 2010
Collaborators
Robert Tilton, CMU (CHE, BME)-PI
Ned Minkley, CMU (Biology)
Krzysztof
Matyjaszewski, CMU (Chemistry)
Publications
Navid Saleh, Hye-Jin Kim, Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Robert D. Tilton, and Gregory V. Lowry.
Ionic Strength and Composition affect the mobility of surface-modified
NZVI in water-saturated sand columns. Environ. Sci. Technol. (submitted).
Phenrat, T., Saleh, N., Sirk, K., Kim, H., Matyjaszewski, K., Titlton, R.,
Lowry, G.V. Stabilization of Aqueous Nanoscale
Zerovalent Iron Dispersions by Anionic Polyelectrolytes: Adsorbed anionic polyelectrolyte layer
properties and their effect on aggregation and sedimentation. J Nanoparticle Res.
(submitted).
Liu, Y., Phenrat, T.,
Lowry, G. V. Effect of TCE concentration
and dissolved groundwater solutes on NZVI-promoted TCE dechlorination
and H2 evolution. Environ.
Sci. Technol. (in press).
Phenrat, T., Saleh, N., Sirk, K., Tilton, R., Lowry, G. V. (2007)
“Aggregation and Sedimentation of Aqueous Nanoiron
Dispersions” Environ. Sci.
Technol., 41 (1) 284-290.
Saleh, N., Sirk, K., Liu, Y., Phenrat, T., Dufour, B., Matyjaszewski, K., Tilton, R., Lowry, G. V. (2007)
“Surface Modifications Enhance Nanoiron Transport and
DNAPL Targeting in Saturated Porous Media.”
Environ.
Abstract
The aim of this project is to develop a novel
targeted delivery system that provides efficient source-zone remediation of
groundwater contamination by chlorinated organic pollutants. The system is
based on copolymer amphiphiles adsorbed onto reactive
nanoparticles. The nanoparticles
have zero-valent iron cores (“nanoiron”)
that reduce chlorinated organic compounds to nontoxic products in situ.
Optimizing the targeted delivery system requires attention to several
colloidal, polymer synthesis, and engineering issues. At the same time,
biological interactions between these reactive nanostructures and soil microbes
are considered as an integral part of the nanostructure design process in order
to minimize any potential negative consequences of releasing nanomaterials into the environment. There are three main aspects of the
nanostructure/microbial interaction research – to identify the soil microbial
influence on the fate of the nanoiron itself, to
ascertain and control if possible the extent to which nanoiron
alters soil microbial ecology, and to identify opportunities for synergism
between the nanotechnological remediation mechanism
and the microbial natural attenuation processes that may exist in the soil. The
research focuses on nanoiron for trichloroethylene
(TCE) remediation, but the approach should be generalizable
to other pollutants or nanoparticles. This research will deliver an understanding
of nanoiron fate in and impact (positive or negative)
on anaerobic soil bacterial ecology. By
incorporating biological interaction issues in the early stage design of a new
environmental nanotechnology, the proposed research plan endorses the philosophy
that new technological innovation will have the greatest benefit if potential
risks are anticipated and mitigated early in the design process.
Greg Lowry Home | Dept. Civil & Env.
Engr.