The course addresses the most recent advances in the field of the applications and implications of nanoparticles (NPs) to water resources. On the one hand, industrial applications of nanotechnologies are leading to increasing quantities and types of NPs being released in the environment. On the other hand, NPs are being successfully used in a number of environmental applications, in particular for the cleanup of contaminated sites and wastewater treatment (nanoremediation). The course addresses both aspects. The most advanced micromaterials and nanomaterials developed for soil and aquifer remediation are presented and techniques for NP detection and characterization are presented. Highlights on NP polymer coating and reactivity are also included. Particle transport in porous media is discussed, including processes and modeling approaches for the prediction of NP mobility in the subsurface environment. Significant differences in mass transport of colloids and solutes will also be discussed. Part of the course is dedicated to a hands-on training on the use of MNMs, a software for the simulation of solute and colloid transport in 1-D and radial domains (www.polito.it/groundwater/software).

Nessuno

Introduction to nanoparticles in the environment, nanoremediation and environmental application of engineered nanomaterials. Nanoparticles for groundwater remediation: reactivity, colloidal stability, functionalization and coating. Subsoil delivery of nanomaterials: properties of porous media, flow and transport of solutes and particles in saturated porous media. Particle transport in porous media at the microscale: state of the art on experimental and modeling approaches (imaging and numerical simulations). Particle transport in porous media at the macroscale: laboratory tests and modeling. Mass transport equations, colloid/porous medium interaction mechanisms (equilibrium and non equilibrium interactions, reversible and irreversible retention). Porous medium clogging. Transport of unstable colloidal suspensions. Particle filtration in non Newtonian fluids. Environmental applications: injection of iron nanoparticles for groundwater remediation. Use of the software MNMs to simulate particle transport in 1D and radial geometries.

In presenza

Presentazione orale

P.D.2-2 - Maggio