Environmental Nano-Chemistry
Nano and the Environment
The environment is a vast reservoir of diverse particles. There are many kinds of naturally occurring particles with at least one dimension in the nanoscale range (<100 nm). Good examples are phyllosilicates, metal oxides, enzymes, and humic substances. Several thousand teragrams of inorganic nanoparticles of natural origins are estimated to be produced every year in the terrestrial ecosystems, probably for billions of years.
On the other hand, millions of tons of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are produced every year. The global ENMs market is expected to reach USD 16.8 billion in 2022, a 130% increase from 2016. The most prominent ENMs are TiO2, ZnO, SiO2, CNT, FeOx, and Ag, which can be found in a broad range of applications, such as construction, packaging, consumer goods, electrical and electronics, etc.
There is no doubt that we are increasingly in contact with nanomaterials through everyday life. But the effect of these materials on the environment and public health is uncertain. Nanomaterials have potential to substantially improve environmental quality and public health, for example, through nano-enabled water treatment technologies. Clear controversy also exists for nanotechnology as there is no consensus on risks and benefits.
What we should do?
As we continue to develop nanomaterials for applications, we need to improve our ability to predict or manage potential environmental and health impacts. The knowledge should then be used for the design and manufacture of nano-enabled product or process with better effectiveness and lower environmental risks.
As an environmental chemist and engineer, I am interested in identifying and understanding the physiochemical processes at the nanomaterial-water interface that control the uptake, release, and transformation of environmental contaminants. I have examined the role of various nanomaterials in contaminant transformation and developed strategies and technologies for water treatment and remediation.
My research employs interdisciplinary approaches across environmental chemistry, geoscience, engineering, and life cycle assessment. My collaborators and I bridge the gaps between molecular scale mechanisms and bulk observations, and between material properties (e.g., hazard and reactivity) and life cycle implications.
Where my curiosity takes me
My academic interests are motivated by the increasing demand for water quality and supply in response to pollution and climate change due to human activities. I am passionate to promote and maintain a clean and sustainable environment through active research, education, and outreach.
The types of question I seek to understand and address include:
- Stability of iron oxide/sulfide nanoparticles and the impact on oxyanions mobilization
- Novel methods for point-of-use water treatment that employ nanomaterials
- Remediation of radionuclides and heavy-metal contaminated soil and groundwater
- Strategies for improving knowledge exchange among scientists, public audience, and decision-makers