Nanostructures in Environmental Pollution Detection, Monitoring, And Remediation

Ashok Vaseashta
Nanomaterials Processing & Characterization Laboratories, Graduate Program in Physical Sciences, Marshall University, One John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25755-2570, USA

George Gallios
Department of Industrial Chemistry and Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GR-541 24, GREECE

Miroslava Vaclavikova
Institute of Geotechnics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 45 Watsonova St., 043 53 Kosice, SLOVAKIA

James Brumfield
Graduate Program in Physical Sciences, Marshall University, One John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25755-2570, USA

Sherri Vaseashta
Nanomaterials Processing & Characterization Laboratories, Graduate Program in Physical Sciences, Marshall University, One John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25755-2570, USA

Ornprapa Pummakarnchana
AIT, Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Systems, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, THAILAND

Ioan Stamatin
”3 Nano” & Alternative Energy Sources Research Center, University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, Romania, Bucharest-Magurele, ROMANIA

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     Last modified: January 3, 2006

Abstract
Recent advances in nanoscale materials, devices, and systems have demonstrated numerous unique applications in chemical and biological sensors, nanophotonics, nanobiotechnology, and in-vivo analysis of cellular processes. Our research groups have expanded the scope of research directions to include environmental pollution detection, monitoring, and remediation. Availability of newly launched nanotechnology based NOx sensors provide accurate ground pollution concentrations and are deployed for this investigation to monitor the extent of pollution in several major cities. Traditionally, satellite data has been unexploited by environmental pollution scientists. With the advancement of remote sensing technologies with high spatial and spectral resolution, it is now possible to model urban pollution using satellite images. We have developed a unique capability to acquire, display and assimilate these valuable sources of data to accurately assess urban pollution by real time monitoring using nanotechnology based sensors and satellite imagery. Urban pollution concentration of NOx, NO2. CO2, SO2, CH4, CO, and aerosols are modeled using NASA TERRA mission ASTER satellite data with 14 bands and high spatial resolutions. To distinguish between pollution concentration and atmospheric scattering by large sized dust particles created by urban sprawl, change detection analysis (CDA) on temporal data from LandsatTM 1-7 is used in the investigation. GIS Software Arc GIS 8.3 and Arc Info Workstation (ESRI) are used to convert the satellite data into usable formats viz. shape-file format and to perform overlay analysis. Remote sensing software ER-Mapper 6.4 is further employed to accurately model the data through feature extraction for pattern recognition. Several digital imaging processes such as geometric registration, radiometric normalization, and unsupervised classification and accuracy assessment of results will be presented. Moreover, an Internet GIS framework will be applied to disseminate real time pollution data. This invaluable and integrated tool will be beneficial towards prediction processes to support public awareness and establish policy priorities for air pollution in polluted areas. As the resulting data are vital for effective decision-making, it necessitates procedures to ensure their authenticity and integrity. The complex nature of environmental pollution data mining and transmission requires computing technologies that integrate multiple sources and repositories of data over multiple networking systems and platforms that must be accurate, secure, and reliable. An evaluation of security risks and strategies within an environmental information system is presented for technologies used in gathering, processing, storing, and disseminating environmental data. Furthermore, the use of nanostructures in remediation of environmental pollution to provide clean air is also described. On a related note, our collaborative research effort is also to purify water using nanostructured materials. Due to the intense industrialisation and land cultivation, huge quantities of untreated or insufficiently treated waste waters containing harmful substances continues to be discharged to the environment. Acid rain, acid mine drainage and other human activities have also decreased available pure water reserves. In recent years, industries requiring tremendous water resources are recycling water to meet local zoning regulations requiring zero water discharge. It is obvious that efficient technologies for water treatment-cleaning from the various pollutants are needed. Numerous treatment technologies such as ion exchange, sorption, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and sorption-coprecipitation by metals (predominately ferric chloride) followed by coagulation have been developed for the removal of highly toxic pollutants like arsenic and cadmium from aqueous media. Sorption on advanced nanobased sorbents has been found effective for the removal of cadmium and arsenic from water streams and are being developed for practical use. We will present our initial investigation on exploring how nanoparticles can be used in environmental pollution and contaminants remediation, such as helping to transform toxic metals in lakes, rivers or streams, and in groundwater for easier cleanup. The joint research efforts and specific applications to be presented embody the potential for spatial and in-situ environmental sensing and remediation involving nanomaterials.