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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. EPA Technology Innovation and Field Services Division

Nanotechnology Project Profiles Database

Welcome to the Nanotechnology Project Profiles Database

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed this website to summarize information about selected full-, field- and pilot scale applications of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is an emerging technology that is generally defined as the ability to create and use materials, devices and systems with unique properties with a size of approximately 1 to 100 nanometers (nm). Applications of nanotechnology in environmental protection draw on nanomaterials— unique properties and include (1) sensors for improved monitoring and detection capabilities, and (2) treatment and remediation techniques for cost-effective and rapid site cleanup. Projects for this website are collected using information from technical journals and conference proceedings, as well as information obtained from technology vendors and site managers. The project profiles contain information on the types of contaminants treated, the type of nanomaterial used, the nanomaterial vendor, the length of operations, project scale and status, location, cost, monitoring and performance results, and points of contact and references. This website can be used as a networking tool (each profile lists a contact) to identify past solutions and lessons learned that would apply to new sites with similar contaminants and climate.

As of December 2013, the website included information on 45 nanotechnology projects, encompassing international, completed, and on-going nanotechnology applications. The profiles have documented the use of nanotechnology primarily for chlorinated volatile organic chemicals (CVOCs) such as trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA), and vinyl chloride. As further information is obtained, EPA plans to update and expand this website with new nanotechnology project profiles and updated information for existing project profiles. EPA is continuing its efforts to examine trends in the use of nanotechnology. Areas of particular interest include measurement of performance and cost, use of nanotechnology in remedial systems, and the fate and transport of contaminants where nanomaterials are used.

For more information or to update or add a new profile, please contact:

Michael Adam
Technology Integration and Information Branch

adam.michael@epa.gov
202-566-0875

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