Aggregation and Deposition Behavior of Carbon Nanotubes in Aquatic Environments

本研究的总体目的是研究碳纳米管在水生环境中的聚集和沉积行为。由于碳纳米管独特的尺寸和物理化学性质，它们的聚集和沉积行为可能与研究较多的亚微米大小的无机和有机胶体颗粒大不相同。具体来说，我们将研究碳纳米管功能化、主要单个碳纳米管的大小、聚集（捆绑）状态和水溶液组成如何影响水生环境中聚集和沉积/过滤的动力学。这些信息将用于评估释放到自然水中的碳纳米管在多大程度上可能以更大的聚集体形式存在，以及这些聚集体通过诸如沉淀和沉积/过滤等物理化学过程被去除的可能性。

0646247ElimelechThe overall objective of this research is to investigate the aggregation and deposition behavior of CNT in aquatic environments. Because of the unique dimensions and physicochemical properties of CNTs, it is likely that their aggregation and deposition behaviors are quite different than those of the much studied submicrometer-sized inorganic and organic colloidal particles. Specifically, we will examine how CNT functionalization, size of primary single CNT, aggregation (bundling) state, and aqueous solution composition affect the kinetics of aggregation and deposition/filtration in aquatic environments. This information will be used to evaluate to what extent CNTs released into natural waters may be present as larger aggregates and the potential for these aggregates to be removed due to physicochemical processes such as sedimentation and deposition/filtration.