Nanotechnology Project Profiles Database
Description of Web Site
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- Description of Web Site
- Nanotechnology Database Fact Sheet (397KB/2pp/PDF)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI) is interested in providing federal and state project managers and others with timely information about developments in the field of nanotechnology. This Web Site contains information about completed and on-going full-, pilot-, and bench scale nanotechnology applications (domestic and international). As of December 2013, the Web Site included information on 45 nanotechnology projects. Profiles include nanotechnology applications for contaminants in soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediments.
This Web Site 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 site conditions. Cost and performance data on nanotechnology projects to date have been limited. Therefore, EPA is seeking to acquire more data on cost and performance for various nanotechnology projects as part of this Web Site effort.
Several types of nanomaterials have been used for the remediation of contaminants such as trichloroethene (TCE), perchloroethene (PCE), 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA), and vinyl chloride. The primary types of nanomaterials described in the project profiles in the Web Site include the following:
- Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI), which has been used for bench-scale research and for pilot-scale and full-scale cleanups. Zero-valent metals, such as nZVI, have high surface reactivity and are used in the remediation of water, sediments, and soils.
- Bimetallic nanoscale particles (BNP), which have been used to remediate contaminants in soil and groundwater. BNPs consist of particles of elemental iron or other metals in conjunction with a metal catalyst, such as platinum, gold, nickel, and palladium. This combination of metals increases the kinetics of the oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction, thereby catalyzing the reaction which degrades the contaminant.
- Emulsified zero-valent iron (EZVI), which has been used to remediate chlorinated solvents. EZVI consists of nano- or micro-scale ZVI surrounded by an emulsion membrane that facilitates treatment of chlorinated hydrocarbons.
The nanotechnology project profiles on this Web Site describe the use of nanotechnology at specific sites. The profiles contain a summary of available information, including:
- Site Information
- Site name, location, and EPA region
- Cleanup program
- Site type
- Project Information
- Project status and scale
- Site history and background
- Project start and end dates
- Contaminants treated
- Media treated (type and quantity)
- Site geology and hydrogeology
- Type of nanomaterial used
- Technology design
- Operation and maintenance (O&M) requirements
- Cleanup goals and results
- Nanotechnology cost
- Future plans
- Additional Information
- Nanoparticle vendors
- Points of contact
- Information sources or references
The nanotechnology project profiles provide varying level of detail, depending on the data and information available and reviewed.
Data Sources
EPA obtained data from technical journals, conference proceedings, and technology vendors and site managers to prepare the profiles.
How to Search the Web Site
The Web Site provides a search engine that allows a user to search the profiles by site name, site type, city, state, country, EPA region, cleanup program, project name, nanomaterial type, nanomaterial vendor, contaminant, media, project status, or project scale. A user may also select the button "List All," which presents a list of all available profiles. Search results are listed alphabetically by project name.
Future Plans for the Web Site
EPA is preparing more profiles and will also provide links for more information on nanotechnology projects as information becomes available.
Feedback on this Web Site
Please share your feedback and comments with Michael Adam of EPA's OSRTI, by e-mail at adam.michael@epa.gov, or by telephone at 202-566-0875.
