...NaNotechNology applicatioNs for cleaN Water Micro & NaNo TechNologies series editor: Jeremy ramsden Professor of Nanotechnology Microsystems and Nanotechnology Centre, Department of Materials Cranfield University, United Kingdom the aim of this book series is to disseminate the latest developments in small scale technologies with a particular emphasis on accessible and practical content. these books will appeal to engineers from industry, academia and government sectors. for more information about the book series and new book proposals please contact the publisher, Dr. Nigel hollingworth at nhollingworth@williamandrew.com. http://www.williamandrew.com/MNt NaNotechNology applicatioNs for cleaN Water edited by Nora savage Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency and (in alphabetical order) Mamadou Diallo Materials and process simulation center, Division of chemistry and chemical engineering, california institute of technology Jeremiah Duncan Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison anita street Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency and Center of Advanced Materials for the Purification of Water with Systems, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign richard sustich N o r w i c h , N Y, U S A copyright © 2009 by William andrew inc. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying...
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...has been a top priority in society. Among these natural resources, water is among the most popular. In particular, securing safe drinking water has become the general focal point, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has outlined several mandates to ensure safe drinking water is distributed among the public. However, water treatment plants across the United States do not always follow these regulations, and harmful chemicals and byproducts exist in drinking water as a result. According to the New York Times analysis of federal data, more than 20% of the United States water treatment systems do not provide water immune to certain chemicals or harmful bacteria (Duhigg 1). Background When the Clean Water Act was drafted in 1974, its original provision was to clean US waterways, providing “fishable and swimmable” water to the public (“Troubled Waters” 1). However, even after 38 years, this act has not been completely fulfilled, due to lack of enforcement and political entanglement. These factors are discussed more thoroughly in the next few sections. Environmental Protection Agency The Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1972 to do exactly what its title states: to protect all sectors of our environment from harmful treatment, therefore preserving the “green” side of all life. In particular, the Safe Drinking Water Act is most relevant to this report. It was set down to ensure that water would no longer carry harmful bacteria or chemicals from its source...
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...DRINKING WATER Drinking water or potable water is water safe enough to be consumed by humans or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry meets drinking water standards, even though only a very small proportion is actually consumed or used in food preparation. Typical uses (for other than potable purposes) include toilet flushing, washing and landscape irrigation. Over large parts of the world, humans have inadequate access to potable water and use sources contaminated with disease vectors, pathogens or unacceptable levels of toxins or suspended solids. Drinking or using such water in food preparation leads to widespread acute and chronic illnesses and is a major cause of death and misery in many countries. Reduction of waterborne diseases is a major public health goal in developing countries. Water has always been an important and life-sustaining drink to humans and is essential to the survival of all known organisms.[1] Excluding fat, water composes approximately 70% of the human body by mass. It is a crucial component of metabolic processes and serves as a solvent for many bodily solutes. The United States Environmental Protection Agency in risk assessment calculations assumes that the average American adult ingests 2.0 litres per day.[2] Drinking water of a variety of qualities is bottled. Bottled water is sold for public consumption throughout the world. Requirements A fountain...
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...Nano technology in the automotive industry:- ABSTRACT What is Nanotechnology? Nanotechnology is the engineering of materials on the scale of 1 nanometer (nm) to 100 nm, a nanometer being 1 billionth of a meter. At this level, the basic physical laws governing macro objects undergo a drastic change. A macro particle is a cluster of atoms arranged together in random order. The formation of the structure is left to nature, and control over the properties of the material is difficult. Nanotechnology, on the other hand, is a bottom-up approach where materials are created by placing individual atoms together. This decreases the randomness in the structural formation, enabling significant control over the properties of the material. Mechanical properties such as strength, ductility, and resilience can all be incorporated into one material. Currently, nanotechnology is functioning as an enabling technology. It is being used to enhance the properties of existing materials. This is largely attributed to the fact that the technology has clearly not been understood and there is still much more to nanotechnology than meets the microscopic eye. It is rare for a single technology to have the power to dramatically influence almost every major industry in the world. Nanotechnology falls into this category and offers fundamentally new capabilities to architect a broad array of novel materials, composites and structures on a molecular scale. This technology has the potential to drastically...
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...The Status of Water Pollution in Canada Water pollution in Canada as well as many parts of the world is becoming more of an issue as more waste leaches into water systems. By definition, water pollution occurs when discharges of energy or materials degrade water for other users (“Water pollution”, 2010). As populations continue to grow and more industries develop, pollution of marine and inland waters will continue to rise. There are six categories in which water pollutants are categorized. (“Water pollution”, 2010) Depending on the severity of the concentration, the water body may not be fit for human consumption. The categories in which water pollution are separated include: pathogens, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nutrients, toxic materials, acidification, temperature changes and controls (“Water pollution”, 2010). The awareness of water pollution should be brought more to the public’s attention as more water supplies are contaminated. Water pollution not only affects the human population, but the wildlife that thrives off the environment. The wildlife drinking contaminated water are suffering adverse health effects that could be further transferred to humans through hunting. Although programs exist to help lessen the affects of pollutants, not enough people are taking the matter seriously and contribute to littering our waterways with garbage. When water is being tested for pollution, there are six possible categories in which pollution...
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...NANOTECHNOLOGY Contents: • Aim • Introduction • Nanotechnology is a set of enabling technology • Interest in Nanotechnology • Development in last 10 years • Brief History • Diversity • Implications of Nanotechnology • Unifying themes • Examples • Molecular electronics • New technologies for clean and efficient energy generation • Nanoassembled products • Growth in world investment in nanotechnology • Social, ethical and safety concerns. • Health and environmental impacts • Social and ethical issues arising from Nanotechnology-based products. • Conclusions on the global nanotechnology scene. • Issues and challenges for the research sector • Future Scope Aims of Term Paper are to:- ✓ Define and explain Nanotechnology. ✓ Elaborate the various terms related to it. ✓ Describe various examples of Nanotechnology. ✓ Outline the Future scope of Nanotechnology. ✓ Explain the various applications of Nanotechnology in different fields. What is nanotechnology? Nanotechnology is engineering at the molecular (groups of atoms) level. It is the collective term for a range of technologies, techniques and processes that involve the manipulation of matter at the smallest scale (from 1 to 100 nm). The classical laws of physics and chemistry do not readily apply at this very small scale for two reasons. Firstly, the electronic properties of very small particles...
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...Nanotechnology and its process on computing: Nano and technology: * a Nanometre is a unit of length in the metric system,equal to one billion of ametre(10-9). * Technology is the making usage and knowledge and tools,techinques and machines,in order to solve a problem or to perform specific function | | “ Nanotechnology is the art and science of manipulating in a nanoscale” Nanotechnology in computing: Computing includes designing, developing and building hardware and software systems; processing, structuring, and managing various kinds of information; doing scientific research on and with computers; making computer systems behave intelligently; and creating and using communications and entertainment media. Nanocomputing:”A nanocomputer is a computer whose physical dimensions are microscopic. The field of nanocomputing is part of the emerging field of nanotechnology . Several types of nanocomputers have been suggested or proposed by researchers and futurists.” Nanocomputing, as defined in this report, refers to computing systems which are constructed from nanoscale compo- nents. The issues that need to be faced for successful realization of nanocomputers relate to the scale and integration of the components. nanotechnology and its type: Electronic nanocomputers would operate in a manner similar to the way present-day microcomputers work. Most engineers agree that technology has not yet come close to pushing this limit. By 1970s standards, today's ordinary microprocessors...
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...------------------------------------------------- Water purification From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is about large scale, municipal water purification. For portable/emergency water purification, see portable water purification. For industrial water purification, see deionized water. For distilled water, see distilled water. For the treatment of sewage see sewage treatment Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids and gases from contaminated water. The goal is to produce water fit for a specific purpose. Most water is purified for human consumption (drinking water), but water purification may also be designed for a variety of other purposes, including meeting the requirements of medical, pharmacological, chemical and industrial applications. In general the methods used include physical processes such as filtration,sedimentation, and distillation, biological processes such as slow sand filters or biologically active carbon, chemical processes such as flocculation and chlorination and the use of electromagnetic radiation such as ultraviolet light. The purification process of water may reduce the concentration of particulate matter including suspended particles, parasites, bacteria,algae, viruses, fungi; and a range of dissolved and particulate material derived from the surfaces that water may have made contact with after falling as rain. The standards for drinking water quality are typically set by governments...
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...Journal of Controlled Release 113 (2006) 189 – 207 www.elsevier.com/locate/jconrel Review Role of antioxidants in prophylaxis and therapy: A pharmaceutical perspective D. Venkat Ratnam, D.D. Ankola, V. Bhardwaj, D.K. Sahana, M.N.V. Ravi Kumar ⁎ Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Phase-X, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali, Punjab, India - 160062 Received 31 January 2006; accepted 26 April 2006 Available online 13 May 2006 Abstract Antioxidants are emerging as prophylactic and therapeutic agents. These are the agents, which scavenge free radicals otherwise reactive oxygen species and prevent the damage caused by them. Free radicals have been associated with pathogenesis of various disorders like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative disorders and are implicated in aging. Several antioxidants like SOD, CAT, epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate, lycopene, ellagic acid, coenzyme Q10, indole-3-carbinol, genistein, quercetin, vitamin C and vitamin E have been found to be pharmacologically active as prophylactic and therapeutic agents for above mentioned diseases. Antioxidants are part of diet but their bioavailability through dietary supplementation depends on several factors. This major drawback of dietary agents may be due to one or many of the several factors like poor solubility, inefficient permeability, instability due to storage of food, first pass effect and GI degradation. Conventional...
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...Sustainability Related to New Water Technologies Name Class Institution Date Earth has provided us with various fossil fuels and natural resources that we need to live an adequate life. However, as fossil fuels dwindle and the human population continues to grow, the livelihood of humanity is threatened. Furthermore, the use of fossil fuels has several negative impacts on society. For example, fossil fuels pose a serious danger to the environmental through climate changes and global warming. Additionally, as fossil fuels become more scarce the prices will significantly increase. One way to alleviate the negative impacts of fossil fuels is by investing research and development into sustainability. Sustainability refers to the use of renewable energy resources to sustain the current processes of society and the economy. Sustainability also encompasses the idea that any developments should meet the requirements of the current society without affecting the capability of future generations to meet their requirements. As water supply systems continue to dwindle, new sustainability technologies have emerged that will allow society to overcome the challenges of scarce clean and fresh water. There are several ways in which to define sustainability. In essence, sustainability refers to our ability to sustain our current needs without negatively impacting future generation’s ability to meet their needs. However,...
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...Introduction Nanoleaf technology is an inventive method of green energy collection, combining the conversion of light, heat and wind power. Integrated nanotechnologies enable the nanoleaves to convert solar radiation (light & heat) into electricity. Furthermore, the leaf petiole or the stem, and twigs comprise nano-piezovoltaic material -- these tiny generators produce electricity from movement or kinetic energy caused by wind or falling raindrops. A fundamental flaw in conventional solar cells is that electrons give too much energy by sunlight and lose that energy in heat form, as the electrons move thermally to the bottom of the conduction band. Solar Botanic "hot carrier" solar cells would use quantum dots (i.e., nano-particles) to confine electrons long enough so that they could be extracted before their energy dissipates as heat. With this process of combining the conversion of light, heat and wind, more energy is generated, as the "hot carrier" can now be efficiently used with the implementation of thermo-voltaic cells. The design of the nanoleaves is based on the principles of photosynthesis, a natural process where plants extract the light from solar energy, and along with CO2 from the atmosphere, convert it to starches and oxygen, the oxygen being emitted to the atmosphere. However, nanoleaves development has gone a step further, in that they are capable of harvesting the thermal and light energy from the sun’s energy and convert it to electricity. The stems...
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...PHOTOCATALYSIS AN OVERVIEW1 Radwan A. Al-Rasheed Saline Water Desalination Research Institute Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) P.O.Box 8328, Al-Jubail 31951, Saudi Arabia e-mail: rdc@swcc.gov.sa ABSTRACT Photocatalysis process, as an environmental application is a relatively novel subject with tremendous potential in the near future. This paper describes the basics of heterogeneous photocatalysis, mainly on TiO2 and the application of photocatalytic processes to water purification and treatment. The paper also reviews more than 50 references covering the wide scale of heterogeneous water phase applications. Finally, a short review of more interesting practical application of photocatalysis for the removal of natural organic matter from seawater is presented. 1. INTRODUCTION Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a rapidly expanding technology for water and air treatment. It can be defined as the acceleration of photoreaction in the presence of a catalyst. The initial interest in the heterogeneous photocatalysis was started when Fujishima and Honda discovered in 1972 the photochemical splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen with TiO2 [18]. From this date extensive work has been carried out to produce hydrogen from water by this novel oxidation reduction reaction using a variety of semiconductors. In recent years interest has been focused on the use of semiconductor materials as photocatalysts for the removal of organic and inorganic species from aqueous or gas phase. This...
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...Biosensors and Bioelectronics 25 (2009) 661–667 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Biosensors and Bioelectronics journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/bios Review Detection of microorganisms using biosensors—A smarter way towards detection techniques Madhura Nayak 1 , Akhil Kotian 1 , Sandhya Marathe 1 , Dipshikha Chakravortty ∗ Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Biosafety Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t Along with useful microorganisms, there are some that cause potential damage to the animals and plants. Detection and identification of these harmful organisms in a cost and time effective way is a challenge for the researchers. The future of detection methods for microorganisms shall be guided by biosensor, which has already contributed enormously in sensing and detection technology. Here, we aim to review the use of various biosensors, developed by integrating the biological and physicochemical/mechanical properties (of tranducers), which can have enormous implication in healthcare, food, agriculture and biodefence. We have also highlighted the ways to improve the functioning of the biosensor. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Article history: Received 8 July 2009 Received in revised form 22 August 2009 Accepted 25 August 2009 Available online 31 August 2009 Keywords: Biosensors Microorganisms Biodefence...
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...ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PRIVATE REMEDIES Civil Law * written codes which rely on statutory material, traditions * Judges has small role Common Law * Based on customs of the areas, precedents * Judge made law – cases decided by judge US * Mostly statutory, but judges are important * Interpret statues * Judge decides if not codified * Criminal – against State * Civil – all other Environmental Law not very effective if using private remedies PRIVATE REMEDIES | GOOD | BAD | Develop theory and needs | After the fact | Push legislation | Disorganized | Day in court | Costly | Money damages | Only personal damages | Tort Law - wrongful acts vs. contract law 1. Negligence a. Duty owned b. Unreasonable act c. Personal Injury d. Ex: pesticides 2. Trespass e. Tied to property rights f. Property invasion g. Ex: dam building (H2O invasion) 3. Nuisance h. Tied to unreasonable use interfering with another’s use i. Property use damaged j. Loss of livability k. Can’t move TO a nuisance l. Standing question i. cannot sue unless suffer special damage ii. different in kind, not just degree m. Ex: smoke, sewage treatment, hog farm, airport CIVIL REMEDIES 1. Monetary damages – personal things $ can fix 2. Injunctive relief – environmental, $ can’t replace, make do something a. Negative – DON’T...
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...M A R C H 2 014 Are you ready for the resource revolution? Stefan Heck and Matt Rogers Meeting increasing global demand requires dramatically improving resource productivity. Yet technological advances mean companies have an extraordinary opportunity not only to meet that challenge but to spark the next industrial revolution as well. Most cars spend more than 95 percent of their time sitting in garages or parking lots. When in use, the average occupancy per vehicle is well below two people, even though most cars have five seats. Roads are likewise extremely inefficient. Freeways can operate at peak throughput (around 2,000 cars a lane per hour) only when they are less than 10 percent covered by cars. Add more, and congestion lowers speeds and reduces throughput. Most roads reach anything like peak usage only once a day and typically in only one direction. For a visualization of these dynamics, see Exhibit 1. The story is similar for utilities. Just 20 to 40 percent of the transmission and distribution capacity in the United States is in use at a given time, and only about 40 percent of the capacity of power plants. The heat-rate efficiency of the average coal-fired power plant has not significantly improved in more than 50 years—an extreme version of conditions in many industries over the past century. Automotive fuel-efficiency improvement, for example, has consistently lagged behind economy-wide productivity growth. Underutilization and chronic inefficiency cannot...
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