March 15, 2007, 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM, EDT (18:30-20:30 GMT)

The Superfund Basic Research Program (SBRP), in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), presents "Nanotechnology - DNAPL Remediation." In the last decade, the potential to use nanoparticles (particles <100nm in size) for environmental remediation has attracted much attention, particularly to address the challenging scenarios encountered with Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) contamination. This seminar will explore both the theoretical potential and practical challenges associated with the application of nanoscale particles for in situ remediation of DNAPLs.

Matt Hull (Luna Innovations, Inc.) and Peter Vikesland (Virginia Tech) will present "Magnetite Nanoparticles for Remediation of Contaminated Groundwater." As part of their EPA SBIR collaboration, they have developed stabilized suspensions of nanoscale magnetite (Fe₃O₄) particles for the remediation of groundwater contaminated with carbon tetrachloride (CT). Their seminar explores nanoparticle mobility and reactivity with CT as demonstrated in controlled laboratory studies. Their preliminary data indicate that the reductive capacity of appropriately-synthesized magnetite nanoparticles is considerably higher than that of an equal mass of larger-sized particles. Magnetite nanoparticle synthesis and optimization will also be discussed. Greg Lowry (Carnegie Mellon University) will present "Functionalized Reactive Nanoscale Fe⁰ (NZVI) for in situ DNAPL Remediation: Opportunities and Challenges." Dr. Lowry will discuss the potential of surface-functionalized reactive Fe⁰ nanoparticles (NZVI) to overcome some of the challenges of DNAPL remediation. Several critical issues surrounding the use of NZVI for DNAPL remediation will be addressed including i) the mobility of surface-modified NZVI in the subsurface, ii) the rate of TCE DNAPL degradation and the reaction products formed, and iii) strategies to target DNAPL in situ. The importance of matching the site geochemistry with an appropriate surface modifier is also discussed.

This is the third seminar in the Risk-e-Learning Series "Nanotechnology - Applications and Implications for Superfund." Previous seminars in this series aired on CLU-IN January 18, 2007 & February 13, 2007 and will be available through the CLU-IN archives.

• Matthew S. Hull, Principal Investigator, Life Sciences, Luna Innovations Incorporated (hullm@lunainnovations.com)
• Peter J. Vikesland, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Dept. of CEE, Virginia Tech (pvikes@vt.edu)
• Gregory V. Lowry, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (glowry@cmu.edu)

• Mike Gill, Hazardous Substance Technical Liaison, EPA Region 9 (Gill.Michael@epa.gov)
• Larry Whitson, MDB, Inc. NIEHS Superfund Basic Research Program (whitson@niehs.nih.gov)

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