Water Pollution

Nanotechnology Reducing Water Pollution

How can nanotechnology be used to improve water quality?

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

One challenge is the removal of industrial wastes, such as a cleaning solvent called TCE, from groundwater. 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.

Nanotechnology Applications under Development

Using iron nanoparticles to clean up carbon tetrachloride in groundwater

Filters capable of removing viruses

Nanoparticles that can absorb radioactive contaminates in groundwater

Coating iron nanoparticles allow them to neutralize dense, hydrophobic solvents in groundwater

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

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
American Elements Iron nanoparticles to treat groundwater pollutants  
Argonide  Filter made from nanofibers is capable of removing viruses from watert Lower cost than conventional filters of equivalent performance


Research Centers

Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology

Advanced Membrane Technologies for Water Treatment Research Cluster

Other Environmental Related Pages

Nanovip Web site