Transport, Targeting, and Applications of Metallic Functional Nanoparticles for Degradation of DNAPL Chlorinated Organic Solvents
Funding Agency
Department of Energy-Environmental Management and Science Program
Collaborators
Robert Tilton, CMU (CHE)
David Sholl, CMU (CHE)
Sara Majetich, CMU (Physics)
Kris Matyjaszewski, CMU (Chemistry)
George Redden, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL)
Paul Meakin, INEEL
Harry Rollins, INEEL
Dan Ginosar, INEEL
Publications
Sarbu, T., Koon-Yee Lin, John
Ell, Daniel J. Siegwart, James Spanswick,
and Krzysztof Matyjaszewski (2004).
“Polystyrene with Designed Molecular Weight
Distribution by Atom Transfer Radical Coupling.” Macromolecules 37,
3120-3127.
Abdulwahab Almusallam and David S. Sholl. (2004) “Brownian Dynamics
Study of Polymer Stabilized Particles, Nanotechnology
(in press).
Liu Y., Majetich,
S. A., Tilton, R. D., Sholl, D. S., Lowry, G.V., (2005). “TCE Dechlorination
Rates, Pathways, and Efficiency of Nanoscale Iron
Particles with Different Properties”, Environ.
Sci. &Technol.
39(5) 1338-1345.
Saleh, N., Traian Sarbu, Kevin Sirk, Gregory V.
Lowry, Krzysztof Matyjaszewski and Robert D. Tilton (2005). “Oil-in-Water
Emulsions Stabilized by Polyelectrolyte-Grafted Nanoparticles.”
Langmuir 21, 9873-9878.
Liu, Y., Hyeok Choi, Sara A. Majetich, Dionysios Dionysiou, Gregory V.
Lowry (2005). TCE Hydrodechlorination
by amorphous monometallic nanoiron.” Chem.
Mat. 17, 5315-5322.
Saleh, N., Phenrat, T., Sirk, K., Dufour, B., Ok, J., Sarbu, T., Matyjaszewski, K., Tilton,
R., Lowry, G. V. (2005). “Adsorbed Triblock Copolymers Deliver Reactive Iron Nanoparticles to the Oil/Water Interface.” Nano Lett. 5 (12) 2489-2494.
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.
Liu, Y., Lowry, G.V. (2006) “Effect of Particle Age (Fe0 content) and
Solution pH on NZVI Reactivity: H2 Evolution and TCE Dechlorination”. Environ. Sci. Technol., 40 (19) 6085-6090.
Abstract
Over the past decade, laboratory and field studies
have demonstrated that zero-valent iron and
bimetallic colloids combined with noble metal catalysts can rapidly transform
dissolved chlorinated organic solvents into non-toxic compounds. This emerging
technology also has the potential to address Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid
(DNAPL) contamination, one of DOE’s primary
contamination problems. We propose to develop and prove a technology to more
effectively remediate chlorinated solvents that are present as DNAPLs in the subsurface. A variety of nanoparticles
consisting of Fe(0) and a noble metal catalyst such as
Pd or Pt, will be prepared individually and as composites, and tested for
reaction efficiency. The nanoparticle surfaces will
then be modified with amphiphilic copolymers that
maintain a stable suspension of the particles in either aqueous or organic
solvents for transport in a porous matrix, and create an affinity for the
water-DNAPL interface. The particle mobility, targeting capabilities, and DNAPL
degradation rates will be tested both in micro-model flow cells and in larger
two-dimensional experiments that are representative of subsurface properties at
contaminated DOE sites. A transport model that incorporates hydrodynamic
parameters and solid-solution interfacial properties, as functions of physical
and chemical conditions in the porous matrix, will also be developed. The
objective of this research is to provide an improved technology to reduce or
eliminate a recalcitrant and persistent source for groundwater contamination by
chlorinated solvents. Additional benefits will be to advance the use of
synthetic nanoparticles engineered for specific
functions in subsurface environments, and to improve our ability to manipulate
the migration of natural colloids that cause subsurface transport of many
DOE-relevant contaminants.
Greg Lowry Home | Dept. Civil & Env.