This is the first complete edited volume devoted to providing comprehensive and state-of-the art descriptions of science principles and pilot- and field-scaled engineering applications of nanoscale zerovalent iron particles (NZVI) for soil and groundwater remediation. Although several books on environmental nanotechnology contain chapters of NZVI for environmental remediation (Wiesner and Bottero (2007); Geiger and Carvalho-Knighton (2009); Diallo et al. (2009); Ram et al. (2011)), none of them include a comprehensive treatment of the fundamental and applied aspects of NZVI applications. Most devote a chapter or two discussing a contemporary aspect of NZVI. In addition, environmental nanotechnology has a broad audience including environmental engineers and scientists, geochemists, material scientists, physicists, chemists, biologists, ecologists and toxicologists. None of the current books contain enough background material for such multidisciplinary readers, making it difficult for a graduate student or even an experienced researcher or environmental remediation practitioner new to nanotechnology to catch up with the massive, undigested literature. This prohibits the reader from gaining a complete understanding of NZVI science and technology. In this volume, the sixteen chapters are based on more than two decades of laboratory research and development and field-scaled demonstrations of NZVI implementation. The authors of each chapter are leading researchers and/or practitioners in NZVI technology. This book aims to be an important resource for all levels of audiences, i.e. graduate students, experienced environmental and nanotechnology researchers, and practitioners evaluating environmental remediation, as it is designed to involve everything from basic to advanced concepts.

"Nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) particles are promising engineered nanomaterials for the in situ remediation of various environmental contaminants into innocuous products. In field applications, direct injection of NZVI into the subsurface has been suggested as a promising technique for achieving rapid remediation. However, challenges have been encountered in field application that includes passivation, aggregation and limited transport. Therefore, the success of site remediation using NZVI depends on the progress made to increase nanoparticle reactivity, reduce aggregation and improve mobility. The overall objective of this research was to evaluate the aggregation and transport behavior of NZVI particles in environmentally relevant model groundwater environments. Palladium-doped NZVI (Pd-NZVI) was chosen to ensure heightened reactivity towards the contaminants to address the passivation problem whereas particle surface-modification with stabilizing polymers was investigated to reduce particle aggregation and concurrently improve transport. In this study, rhamnolipid biosurfactant was proposed for the first time as a novel stabilizing surface-modifier and its efficacy was compared with previously proposed surface-modifiers (carboxymethylcellulose and soy protein). By monitoring changes in particle hydrodynamic diameter as a function of time using dynamic light scattering followed by a systematic assessment of transport behavior in sand packed columns, it is shown that while bare Pd-NZVI is prone to rapid aggregation surface-modified Pd-NZVI exhibited good colloidal stability and improved transport at low ionic strengths (10 mM). In particular, rhamnolipid significantly enhanced transport even at much lower concentrations than the other surface modifiers (10 mg/L compared to 100 mg/L). However, an increase in solution ionic strength influenced both aggregation and transport behavior. Nonetheless, at the highest ionic strength tested, the transport of rhamnolipid-coated Pd-NZVI was significantly higher than that of Pd-NZVI coated with other surface modifiers suggesting that rhamnolipid is most suitable in field application.The transport potential of surface-modified Pd-NZVI was further examined in granular matrices of varied complexities: in quartz sand, in loamy sand and clay-amended quartz sand over a wide range of environmentally relevant ionic strengths. Data suggests that collector geochemical composition and heterogeneity can dramatically alter Pd-NZVI transport potential; markedly reduced transport potential was observed in loamy sand than in quartz sand.Given that microbes and biofilms are ubiquitous in the subsurface environment, the role of biofilm on Pd-NZVI transport was investigated by using biofilm-coated quartz sand to pack transport columns. Transport results showed heightened Pd-NZVI retention in the presence of biofilms suggesting that biofilms may act as a collector surface for nanoparticle retention in the groundwater environment. A viability assay suggests that the retained Pd-NZVI is non-toxic to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells in biofilms. However, some inhibitory effect was observed to planktonic bacterial cells. Finally, considering the cost associated with the use of Pd, an alternative reactive nanoparticle, sulfidated NZVI (S-NZVI), was also studied whereby the aggregation and transport behavior of S-NZVI was systematically investigated in a wide range of environmentally relevant water chemistries. Data suggests that sulfidation can influence NZVI surface electrokinetic properties, and thus its stability and transport in granular matrices.Overall, this study makes a major impact in the field of environmental remediation as it addresses key aspects of nanotechnology-enabled site remediation, particularly aspects pertaining to nanoparticle surface coating, collector grain physical, geochemical and biological heterogeneity, and groundwater chemistry." --

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"This thesis investigates the applicability of surface functionalization techniques for nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) particles for improving the degradation of a toxic, common groundwater contaminant, trichloroethene (TCE). Although NZVI has emerged as a promising environmental remediation agent in the past decade and has the potential to transform a number of chlorinated organic pollutants to non-toxic end products, factors such as loss of electrons to reactions with water, formation of passivating oxide layers on NZVI surface and aggregation of NZVI to micron-sized particles pose significant challenges in the application of NZVI for TCE remediation. This research investigated techniques for the modification of NZVI surface with secondary metals (e.g. palladium), inorganic ions (e.g. sulfide), polyelectrolytes and surfactants (e.g. carboxymethylcellulose and rhamnolipid), and solid supports (e.g. activated carbon) to enhance reactivity through mitigation of the challenges mentioned above. The research was aimed at assessing the increases in reactivity, and also characterizing the fundamental physico-chemical processes that were responsible for the changes in reactivity. It was observed that organic macromolecules such as rhamnolipid (M.W. 600 g mol-1) sorbed on NZVI and prevented the deposition of rate enhancing surface dopants namely, palladium and sulfide, and inhibited TCE degradation. Conversely larger molecules such as carboxymethylcellulose (M.W. 700000 g mol-1) and humic acids bound to NZVI hindered deposition of the surface dopants to a lesser extent. Powdered activated carbon when used as a support for embedding NZVI was observed to significantly enhance the TCE degradation rate, however the method adopted for deposition of NZVI critically affected the rate enhancements because of changes in structural properties of activated carbon. Lastly, a phase transfer approach was developed to degrade the solvent (oil) phase of TCE using a rhamnolipid coated Pd-NZVI. This approach enabled 50% higher degradation of TCE solvent compared to a system where phase transfer was not employed." --

Examines the suitability of nanoscale zero-valent iron (ZVI) for degradation of agrochemicals. This book identifies by-products produced from the ZVI-mediated degradation process of particular contaminants, and explains the reaction mechanism by which ZVI degrades a chosen contaminant.

This book contains both practical and theoretical aspects of groundwater resources relating to geochemistry. Focusing on recent research in groundwater resources, this book helps readers to understand the hydrogeochemistry of groundwater resources. Dealing primarily with the sources of ions in groundwater, the book describes geogenic and anthropogenic input of ions into water. Different organic, inorganic and emerging contamination and salinity problems are described, along with pollution-related issues affecting groundwater. New trends in groundwater contamination remediation measures are included, which will be particularly useful to researchers working in the field of water conservation. The book also contains diverse groundwater modelling examples, enabling a better understanding of water-related issues and their management. Groundwater Geochemistry: Pollution and Remediation offers the reader: An understanding of the quantitative and qualitative challenges of groundwater resources An introduction to the environmental geochemistry of groundwater resources A survey of groundwater pollution-related issues Recent trends in groundwater conservation and remediation Mathematical and statistical modeling related to groundwater resources Students, lecturers and researchers working in the fields of hydrogeochemistry, water pollution and groundwater will find Groundwater Geochemistry an essential companion.

We are proposing this comprehensive volume aimed at bridging and bonding of the theory and practical experiences for the elimination of a broad range of pollutants from various types of water and soil utilizing innovative nanotechnologies, biotechnologies and their possible combinations. Nowadays, a broad range of contaminants are emerging from the industry (and also representing old ecological burdens). Accidents and improper wastewater treatment requires a fast, efficient and cost-effective approach. Therefore, several innovative technologies of water and soil treatments have been invented and suggested in a number of published papers. Out of these, some nanotechnologies and biotechnologies (and possibly also their mutual combinations) turned out to be promising for practical utilization – i.e., based on both extensive laboratory testing and pilot-scale verification. With respect to the diverse character of targeted pollutants, the key technologies covered in this book will include oxidation, reduction, sorption and/or biological degradation. In relation to innovative technologies and new emerging pollutants mentioned in this proposed book, an important part will also cover the ecotoxicity of selected pollutants and novel nanomaterials used for remediation. Thus, this work will consist of 8 sections/chapters with a technical appendix as an important part of the book, where some technical details and standardized protocols will be clearly presented for their possible implementation at different contaminated sites. Although many previously published papers and books (or book chapters) are devoted to some aspects of nano-/biotechnologies, here we will bring a first complete and comprehensive treatise on the latest progress in innovative technologies with a clear demonstration of the applicability of particular methods based on results of the authors from pilot tests (i.e., based on the data collected within several applied projects, mainly national project “Environmentally friendly nanotechnologies and biotechnologies in water and soil treatment” of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, and 7FP project NANOREM: “Taking Nanotechnological Remediation Processes from Lab Scale to End User Applications for the Restoration of a Clean Environment”). This multidisciplinary book will be suitable for a broad audience including environmental scientists, practitioners, policymakers and toxicologists (and of course graduate students of diverse fields – material science, chemistry, biology, geology, hydrogeology, engineering etc.).