Nano and Water - Application of Nanoparticles, Nanoengineered Materials and Nanotechnology
Objective(s)
Nanotechnology and Nanoengineered Materials are being developed rapidly for a large number of applications in all kind of sectors and products, e.g. cosmetics, car tires, building and construction materials, pharmaceuticals etc. Their specific properties related to the small sizes, will provide opportunities to develop new technologies with performance and characteristics that cannot be established with conventional materials and technologies.
Nanotechnology has promising perspectives for drinking water and waste water treatment as well. New and advanced treatment technologies can be developed with very specific targets that are very difficult to achieve with conventional technology. But although the technology is very promising, no actual breakthrough in the water sector has occurred yet. Furthermore, application of nanotechnology in water treatment may be a source for nanoparticles itself.
On the other hand, manufacturing and application of nanotechnology and nanomaterials may result in the emission and accumulation of nanoparticles in the environment causing unknown threats for public health and aquatic life. Fate, concentrations and stability of nanoparticles in the environment are in general unknown. Also the removal efficacy of current treatment technology is not known and a topic of great interest.
Because of the promising properties of nanotechnology, but also the disadvantages connected to it, a large research effort is needed. The number of research groups working in the field of nanotechnology is growing. The water sector is however not always aware of the research and development results, because it takes place in different sectors of industry.
During a workshop at the WWC in Beijing in 2006 and a second workshop during the AWWA Annual Conference in Toronto 2007 the quantum leap that nanotechnology can give to water and wastewater treatment and the (mostly unknown) risks resulted in a plea for organising a knowledge exchange platform for the water sector on this topic. This SG has the ambition to create this platform and help the water sector to develop new nanotechnologies and providing clear and objective knowledge and information about the risks involved. Once the risks are known, ways to control them can be found and a technology breakthrough can be achieved.
The objectives of the Specialist Group are to:
- Stimulate research and provide objective information towards water utilities, policy makers and the general public on fate and stability in the environment, and possible health risks and environmental effects of nanoparticles
- Provide a platform and create a network for exchange knowledge and expertise on the development and possible application of nanotechnology and nanomaterials for drinking water and wastewater.
- Stimulate the development of nanotechnology from lab scale to technological scale for drinking water and wastewater applications and simultaneously reducing the risks associated to the specific technologies
- Form “eyes and ears” for the water sector on the development of nanotechnology in other fields (technology scouting)
In the case of overlap with other Specialist Groups, joint events will be organised. At the moment the largest overlap exist with the SG “Assessment and Control of Hazardous Substances in Water”.
The group conference: Applications of Nanotechnology in the Water Sector 2011 has been successfully held in Monte Verita, Switzerland from May 15 to 18, 2011. Please find more information on the conference website (www.iwanano2011.org/).
Chair
Dr Jan Hofman
PO Box 1072 Nieuwegein
3430 AA
Netherlands
Tel: 31 30 6069679
Fax: 31 30 6061165
Secretary
Dr Blanca Antizar-Ladislao
Institute for Infrastructure and Environment School of Engineering
The University of Edinburgh William Rankine Building The King's Buildings
Edinburgh
EH9 3JL
United Kingdom
Tel: +44(0)131 650 5712
Management Committee
see committee members here
Highlight Information
