Effect of Physicochemical Properties on Nanoparticle Fate and Transport in Unsaturated Porous Media

该提案的总体目标是阐明不饱和多孔介质中纳米颗粒（NPs）的命运和运输的关键因素。具有一系列物理化学性质的模型NP（例如，表面电荷、尺寸、形状、密度等）将被综合并用于拟议项目。据推测，NP属性以及周围的环境条件是支配其在不饱和多孔介质中的流动性的主导因素。为了验证这一假设并实现总体目标，将追求以下具体目标：1）合成和表征具有不同尺寸、形状和表面官能化的模型纳米颗粒的稳定分散体; 2）将模型纳米颗粒的物理化学特征与其在不饱和多孔介质中的吸附相关联;以及3）将模型纳米颗粒的物理化学特性与它们在不饱和多孔介质中的传输相关联。实验室实验和建模工具将被用来阐明的管理机制。由于NPs被预测进入不同的环境分区，特别是在土壤和地下水系统中，该项目的成功完成将有助于改进其归宿和迁移的现有理论和模型，从而更准确地预测土壤和地下水污染可能发生的条件。因此，这将大大有助于防止土壤和地下水污染和保护环境健康所需的基本知识。本研究项目将通过培养具有各种背景的研究生，本科生和大学预科生来整合教育。属于代表性不足群体的学生将被列为拟议研究活动的主要参与者。此外，这项拟议的研究将与该大学现有的NSF-REU（本科生研究经验）项目相结合。这项研究将为大学带来高技能，具有全国竞争力的学生，学生和教师将有机会接触到这项研究中采用的最先进的技术。将广泛传播拟议研究的结果。除了出版物和会议报告，研究人员将密切合作，以提高公众对这项研究的重要性的认识。该项目的调查结果将通过研讨会、每月通讯、传单和公共网站向监管机构、行业和其他从业人员广泛传播。这将有助于改进模型，使更准确地预测土壤和地下水受NP污染的条件成为可能。

The overarching objective of this proposal is to elucidate the key factors governing the fate and transport of nanoparticles (NPs) in unsaturated porous media. Model NPs with a range of physicochemical properties (e.g., surface charge, size, shape, density, etc.) will be synthesized and be used in the proposed project. It is hypothesized that the NP properties as well as the surrounding environmental conditions are the dominant factors that govern their mobility in unsaturated porous media. To test the hypothesis and accomplish the overarching objective, the following specific aims will be pursued: 1) synthesizing and characterizing stable dispersions of model nanoparticles with different size, shape and surface functionalization; 2) relating physicochemical characteristics of the model NPs to their adsorption in unsaturated porous media; and 3) relating physicochemical characteristics of the model nanoparticles to their transport in unsaturated porous media. Laboratory experiments and modeling tools will be used to elucidate the governing mechanisms. Because NPs are forecasted to enter different environmental compartments, especially in soil and groundwater systems, the successful completion of this project will help improve current theories and models of their fate and transport, resulting in more accurate predictions of conditions under which soil and groundwater contamination may take place. Consequently, this will contribute greatly to the fundamental knowledge needed to prevent soil and groundwater pollution and protect environmental health in general.This research project will be integrated with education by training graduate, undergraduate, and pre-college students with a diverse array of backgrounds. Students who are members of underrepresented groups will be included as major participants in the proposed research activities. In addition, this proposed research will be coupled with the existing NSF-REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) programs at the university. This research will bring highly skilled, nationally competitive students to the university and the students and faculty will have an opportunity to be exposed to the state-of-the-art technology adopted in this research. Results of the proposed research will be disseminated widely. Beyond publications and conference presentations, the investigators will work closely to enhance public awareness of the importance of this research. Findings from this project will be disseminated widely to regulators, industries, and other practitioners through workshops, monthly newsletters, flyers, and public domain websites. It will help improve models to make possible more accurate predictions of the conditions for soil and groundwater contamination by NPs.