Water Pollution

Water Pollution and Nanotechnology

How can nanotechnology be used to reduce water pollution?

Nanotechnology is being used to develop solutions to three very different problems in water quality.

One challenge is the removal of industrial water pollution, such as a cleaning solvent called TCE, from ground water. Nanoparticles can be used to convert the contaminating chemical through a chemical reaction to make it harmless. Studies have shown that this method can be used successfully to reach contaminates dispersed in underground ponds and at much lower cost than methods which require pumping the water out of the ground for treatment.

The challenge is the removal of salt or metals from water. A deionization method using electrodes composed of nano-sized fibers shows promise for reducing the cost and energy requirements of turning salt water into drinking water.

The third problem concerns the fact that standard filters do not work on virus cells. A filter only a few nanometers in diameter is currently being developed that should be capable of removing virus cells from water.

See the following section for more about the potential of nanotechnology in removing contaminates from water.

Water Pollution: Nanotechnology Applications under Development

Using iron nanoparticles to clean up carbon tetrachloride pollution in ground water

Filters capable of removing viruses

Nanoparticles that can absorb radioactive particles polluting ground-water

Coating iron nanoparticles allow them to neutralize dense, hydrophobic solvents polluting ground-water

Using nanowire mats to absorb oil spills

Using gold tipped carbon nanotubes to trap oil drops polluting water.

Deionization method uses electrodes composed of nano-sized fibers to remove salt and metals in water (page 17 of this report)

Water Pollution: Nanotechnology Company Directory

Company	Product	Advantage
SiREM	Iron nanoparticles to treat groundwater pollutants	Treatment of in place is less expensive than pumping water out of the ground for treatment
CDT Systems	Capacitive Deionization method using electrodes made from a material called carbon aerogel, which is composed of nanosized carbon fibers	Lower energy and operating cost than conventional methods for converting brackish water into drinking water
Campbell Applied Physics	Also working on Capacitive Deionization using carbon aerogel
NanoH2O	Nanotechnology enhanced membranes for water desalination	Reduced cost
Argonide	Filter made from nanofibers is capable of removing viruses from water	Lower cost than conventional filters of equivalent performance

Research Centers

Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology

Advanced Membrane Technologies for Water Treatment Research Cluster

Research Centers

Other Environmental Related Pages