CEE & ENVE COLLOQUIUM SERIES: Environmental Engineering Applications of Nanoparticles
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING SPRING 2016 COLLOQUIUM SERIES
Friday, February 5, 2016 • 12:15 PM • CAST 212
Environmental Engineering Applications of Nanoparticles
Dr. Vinka Oyanedel-Craver
Associate Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Rhode Island
Abstract: Environmental nanotechnology involves the use of nanoscale materials for environmental contexts and the study of potential environmental, health, and safety risks of nanotechnology. Due to the unique properties of nanoparticles and nanomaterials (e.g., chemical reactivity, electronic properties, photochemical properties, and antimicrobial activity), have the potential for their application in environmental remediation, water purification and products recycling and recovery.
The increasing used of these materials in consumer products will result in the release nanomaterials into natural and engineered environmental compartments (water, air, soil). Recent studies have shown that acute exposure of nanoparticles can have negative effects on fish, bacteria, and human cells cultures, inevitable concerns had raised on the impacts of the nanomaterials on the environment and human health.
This talk will cover topics such as, (1) fate, transport, and reactivity of nanoparticles and nanomaterial (2) use of nanotechnology for environmental applications, (3) biological uptake and toxicity nanomaterials; and (3) “greener” design of nanomaterials”.
