HR: 17:45h
AN: H54C-07    [Abstracts]
TI: Transport and Retention of Engineered Nanoparticles in Porous Media Column Experiments
AU: Pesses, T
EM: talpesses@gmail.com
AF: Weizmann Institute of Science, Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
AU: * Dror, I
EM: idror@weizmann.ac.il
AF: Weizmann Institute of Science, Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
AU: Berkowitz, B
EM: brian.berkowitz@weizmann.ac.il
AF: Weizmann Institute of Science, Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
AB: The transport and interactions of engineered nanoparticles in the subsurface are key factors that govern environmental impact of nanoparticles, as well as their human and ecological exposure pathways. Three aspects of nanoparticle fate in the subsurface environment are considered here. First, a new analytical technique to quantitatively measure concentrations of nanosized iron oxide and copper oxide particles in solution, based on UV-vis spectroscopy is presented; this technique complements optical measurements. We then demonstrate that sorption of these nanoparticles on various artificial and natural porous media is essentially negligible, within experimental error; the addition of humic acids to the porous media marginally increases sorption, but yields remain less than 5%. Finally, the transport and distribution of nanoparticles in water-saturated columns packed with porous media is examined. We find that transport behavior is influenced strongly by the method of nanoparticle introduction at the column inlet. Application of dry nanoparticles at the column inlet, followed by periodic flow of water, leads to highly limited nanoparticle migration. Use of continuous water flow causes the nanoparticles to undergo migration, settling and retention, with small amounts of elution from the column outlet. In contrast, nanoparticles that enter the column in a flowing suspension are transported through the column with virtually no retention effects.
DE: 1831 Groundwater quality
DE: 1832 Groundwater transport
DE: 1834 Human impacts
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting