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

物理化学性质对不饱和多孔介质中纳米颗粒命运和传输的影响

• 批准号: 1213333
• 负责人: Bin Gao
• 金额: $ 33万
• 依托单位: University of Florida
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-09-01 至 2016-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1213333&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Effect; Physicochemical; Properties; Nanoparticle; Fate

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.

本提案的总体目标是阐明控制纳米颗粒（NPs）在非饱和多孔介质中的命运和运输的关键因素。具有一系列物理化学性质（例如，表面电荷、大小、形状、密度等）的NPs模型将被合成并用于拟议项目中。假设NP性质和周围环境条件是决定其在非饱和多孔介质中迁移率的主要因素。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，形状和表面功能化的模型纳米颗粒的稳定分散体；2)将模型NPs的物理化学特性与其在非饱和多孔介质中的吸附关系联系起来；3)将模型纳米颗粒的物理化学特性与其在非饱和多孔介质中的传输联系起来。实验室实验和建模工具将用于阐明控制机制。由于预测NPs会进入不同的环境区域，特别是土壤和地下水系统，因此该项目的成功完成将有助于改进目前关于NPs命运和运输的理论和模型，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，这将极大地促进预防土壤和地下水污染以及保护一般环境健康所需的基本知识。该研究项目将通过培养具有不同背景的研究生、本科生和大学预科生，与教育相结合。代表性不足群体的学生将被纳入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。拟议的研究结果将广泛传播。除了出版物和会议报告之外，研究人员还将密切合作，提高公众对这项研究重要性的认识。该项目的研究结果将通过研讨会、月度通讯、传单和公共领域网站广泛传播给监管机构、行业和其他从业者。它将有助于改进模型，使更准确地预测NPs污染土壤和地下水的条件成为可能。