Nanotechnology in Water Research

Bin Gao, PhD, is the Kodak Chair Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Prior, he was a professor at University of Florida, a research associate at Cornell University, and a postdoctoral research associate at Yale University. Prof. Gao’s research mainly focuses on biochar, environmental nanotechnology, and contaminant fate and transport. He has an extensive list of publications in the field of environmental science and engineering.

• Preface xi1 Nanotechnology and Environmental Nanotechnology 11.1 Nanoscale 11.2 Nanotechnology: A Short History 31.3 Nanotechnology in Water Research 7References 92 Overview of Engineered Nanoparticles 112.1 Nanoparticle Basics 112.2 Two Important Properties 122.3 Prime Nanoparticles 152.3.1 Carbon Nanoparticles 152.3.2 Metal Nanoparticles 202.3.3 Metal Oxide Nanoparticles 242.3.4 Other Inorganic Nanoparticles 252.3.5 Organic Nanoparticles 262.3.6 Natural Nanoparticles 262.3.7 Nanoplastics 272.4 Case Study: Nanoparticles and Sustainable Agriculture 292.4.1 Direct Effect of Engineered Nanoparticles on Plants 292.4.2 Nanoparticles for Controlled-Release Fertilizers 31References 373 Nanotechnology and Water Quality Monitoring: Nanosensors 433.1 Sensor Basics 433.1.1 Overview of Sensors 433.1.2 Characteristics 463.1.3 Sensors in Water Research 473.2 Nanosensors and Their Applications 483.2.1 Overview 483.2.2 Carbon Nanoparticle-Based Sensors 493.2.3 Metal Nanoparticle-Based Sensors 513.2.4 Other Nanoparticle-Based Sensors 523.3 Case Studies of Nanosensors in Water Research 543.3.1 Graphene Film-Based Amperometric Sensors 543.3.2 Carbon Dots for Heavy Metal Detection 57References 594 Nanotechnology and Groundwater Remediation 634.1 Groundwater Pollution 634.1.1 Overview 634.1.2 Sources of Groundwater Pollution 644.1.3 Groundwater Contaminants 664.2 Groundwater Remediation Technologies 694.2.1 Environmental Remediation 694.2.2 Groundwater Remediation 704.2.3 Pump and Treat 724.2.4 Bioremediation 724.2.5 Chemical Oxidation 744.2.6 Prb 744.3 Applications of Nanotechnology in Groundwater Remediation 764.3.1 Overview 764.3.2 Synthesis and Stability of nZVI 774.3.3 De-Contamination Mechanisms 814.4 Case Studies of nZVI for In Situ Groundwater Remediation 83References 875 Nanotechnology and Water Purification: Membrane Filtration 935.1 Overview of Membrane Technology 935.2 Membranes in Water Purification 955.2.1 Hydraulic Pressure-Driven Membranes 955.2.2 MF and UF 965.2.3 NF and RO 985.2.4 Membrane Configuration 995.3 Theories of Membrane Filtration 1005.4 Nanoparticles in Membranes for Water Purification 1035.4.1 Arrangement of Engineered Nanoparticles in Membranes 1045.4.2 Overview of Carbon Nanoparticle-Based Membranes 1055.4.3 Carbon Nanotube-Based Membranes 1055.4.3.1 MN-CNT Membranes 1065.4.3.2 BP-CNT Membranes 1075.4.3.3 VA-CNT Membranes 1085.4.4 Graphene-Based Membranes 1085.4.4.1 NG Membrane 1095.4.4.2 Self-Standing GO/rGO Membranes 1115.4.4.3 Graphene-Polymer Composite Membranes 1135.4.5 Metal Nanoparticle-Polymer Composite Membranes 1145.4.6 Metal Oxide Nanoparticle-Polymer Composite Membranes 1145.4.7 Other Nanocomposite Membranes 115References 1166 Nanotechnology and Water Purification: Adsorbents 1216.1 Overview of Adsorption 1216.2 Adsorption Isotherms and Models 1256.2.1 Langmuir Model 1256.2.2 Freundlich Model 1276.2.3 Temkin Model 1286.2.4 Dubinin–Radushkevich Model 1286.2.5 Hybrid Isotherm Models 1296.3 Adsorption Kinetics and Models 1306.3.1 Rate-Limiting Process and Kinetic Models 1306.3.2 Pseudo-Kinetic Models 1316.3.3 Elovich Model 1326.3.4 Internal Diffusion Models 1336.3.5 Homogeneous Surface Diffusion Model 1336.4 Nanomaterial-Based Adsorbents 1346.4.1 Overview of Adsorbents 1346.4.1.1 Biochar 1356.4.1.2 Activated Carbon 1356.4.1.3 Ion Exchange Resins 1376.4.1.4 Zeolite 1376.4.2 Nanoparticle Adsorbents 1386.4.3 Nanoparticle-Enabled Sand Filters 1396.4.4 Nanocomposite Adsorbents 1406.4.5 3D Gel Adsorbents 142References 1437 Nanoparticles in Water: Characterization 1497.1 Sediments, Colloids, and Nanoparticles 1497.1.1 Sediments 1507.1.2 Colloids 1507.1.3 Nanoparticles 1517.2 Particles and Water Quality 1527.2.1 Waterborne Pathogens 1527.2.2 Engineered Nanoparticles 1537.3 Analytical Methods for Nanoparticles in Water 1547.3.1 Direct Separation 1557.3.2 Visualization 1577.3.3 Invisible Spectra 1607.3.4 Other Methods 161References 1628 Nanoparticles in Water: Stability 1658.1 Particle Aggregation 1658.2 DLVO Theory 1678.3 DLVO Model of CNTs 1708.3.1 A Pristine SWNT and an Isotropic Planar Surface 1718.3.2 A Surface-Modified SWNT and a Charged Isotropic Planar Surface 1728.4 Nanoparticle Aggregation Kinetics 173References 1779 Nanoparticles in Water: Filtration 1819.1 Particle Filtration 1819.2 Classical Filtration Theory 1839.3 Nanoparticle Filtration (Case Studies) 1889.3.1 CNTs and Sand Columns 1889.3.2 Biochar and Activated Carbon 191References 19310 Nanoparticles in Surface Runoff 19510.1 Overview 19510.2 Soil Erosion 19710.2.1 Overview 19710.2.2 Soil Erosion Models 19810.2.3 Rainfall-Induced Nanoparticle Transport in Overland Flow 20010.3 Vegetative Filter Strips 20210.4 Single-Stem Efficiency Model 204References 20611 Subsurface Transport of Nanoparticles 21111.1 Overview 21111.2 Interaction Mechanisms 21211.3 Influential Factors 21411.3.1 Nanoparticle Properties 21511.3.1.1 Particle Size 21511.3.1.2 Surface Properties 21611.3.1.3 Input Concentration 21711.3.2 Medium Properties 21811.3.2.1 Moisture Content 21811.3.2.2 Medium Type 21911.3.2.3 Grain Size 22011.3.2.4 Medium Temperature 22111.3.3 Flow Property 22111.3.3.1 Flow Velocity and Direction 22211.3.3.2 Ionic Strength 22311.3.3.3 Solution pH 22411.4 Transport Models 22411.4.1 Homogeneous Porous Media 22511.4.2 Heterogeneous Porous Media 225References 228Index 235