NSF BRIGE GRANT RESEARCH AND OUTREACH PROJECT

Title: 

Enhancing Nanoparticle Dispersion through Surface Modification using Biopolymers

Investigator: Achintya N. Bezbaruah(PI)

Project sponsors: National Science Foundation (09/2011-08/2014)

Body: 

This research was inspired by the need to understand the science involved in the development of low-impact polymers to coat nanoscale particles for groundwater remediation. Combinatorial chemistry methods was used to modify a number of plant-based biopolymers and their structure-property relationships was studied to understand colloidal stability of polymer coated nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI). Contaminant treatability, aquifer injectability, and biodegradation of the coated NZVI (CNZVI) was studied as complementary to the polymer structure-property relationship study. The results obtained from the experiments have led to the design of the best possible architecture for biopolymers to coat NZVI. The overall objective of this research was to study the impacts of manipulation of the biopolymer functional groups on dispersion, contaminant degradation, transport behaviors, and biodegradability of the CNZVI. The specific research objectives were to (1) Study the polymer structure-property relationships to optimize the polymer compositions so that biopolymers can be modified to achieve high colloidal stability of CNZVI; (2) Examine the various geochemical and physical factors impacting effectiveness of CNZVI for environmental contaminant removal; (3) Examine the ease of application/injection of CNZVI into the aquifer for groundwater remediation; and(4) Test biodegradability of the modified biopolymer coating. The educational component of this project aimed at: (1) creating awareness among middle/high school students about the emerging frontiers in nanotechnology with special emphasis on the environment; (2) promote engineering education among students with disabilities, Native American, female, first generation American, and other middle/high school students; and (3) provide nanotechnology research experience to underrepresented students at high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels. One REU site, one RET site, and one VRS site were established with supplementary grants from NSF.

EndDate: 
2014

Related Publications:

Conference Proceedings

Dissertations

Journal Publications

Miscellaneous

Patents

Presentations

Presentations
Bezbaruah A..  2014.  Water Sustainability Research by Middle and High School Students: Creating a Global Forum for the Exchange of Ideas, World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, Portland, OR.
Bezbaruah A.N..  2014.  Introduction to Sustainability Concepts to Middle School Students though Nanotechnology Lessons, World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, Portland, OR.
Pate M, Kalita H., Simsek S., Bezbaruah A.N.  2014.  Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles Surface Modifiers, World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, Portland, OR.
Bezbaruah A, Owen K, Erichsen D., Curtis B..  2014.  K-12 Education: Training the Next Generation of STEM Researchers, 2014 Internet2 Global Summit, Denver, CO.
Cisse S, Bezbaruah A.  2014.  Application of Bionanotechnology for Aqueous Sulfate Removal, World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, Portland, OR.
Kalita H., Meyer A., Chisholm B.J., Bezbaruah A.N..  2013.  A Greener Approach to Enhance Colloidal Stability of NZVI for Ground Water Remediation, World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, Cincinnati, OH.
Bezbaruah A.N., Erickson H., Dobervich E., Laux J., Varholdt J., Gehlhar A., Weber M., Kalita H., Almeelbi T., Quamme M. et al..  2013.  Sustainability and Nanotechnology Education in K-12: Hands-on Teaching Modules for Middle School Students and Summer Research Experience for High School Students, World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, Cincinnati, OH.
Pate M., Simsek S., Bezbaruah A..  2013.  Food Starch Coated Iron Nanoparticles for Application in Contaminant Remediation, Second Sustainable Nanotechnology Conference, Santa Barbara, CA.
Cisse S., Feist B., Bezbaruah A.N..  2013.  Use of Biopolymer Entrapped Metal and Bacteria for Effective Removal of Sulfate in Surface Waters, World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, Cincinnati, OH.
Shabnam R., Kalita H., Ahmed H., Chisholm B.J., Bezbaruah A.N..  2013.  Microbial Degradation of Polydimethylsiloxane: Ramification in Groundwater Remediation and Biomedical Applications, World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, Cincinnati, OH.
Quamme M, Feist B., Bezbaruah A.N..  2013.  Entrapment of Iron Nanoparticles in Alginate Beads for Aqueous Selenium Removal, World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, Cincinnati, OH.
Pate M., Gruba K., Simsek S., Bezbaruah A.N..  2013.  Plant-based Polymers to Coat Iron Nanoparticles: Colloidal Stability and Contaminant Remediation Studies, World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, Cincinnati, OH.
Almeelbi T., Said M.A., Pergande M., A. B.  2013.  Bioavailability of Nanoparticle Sorbed Phosphate: Spinacia oleracea and Selenastrum capricornutum Studies, World Environmental & Water Resources Congress, Cincinnati, OH.
Bezbaruah A.  2012.  Nanoarchitectonic Approaches to Design Green Polymers to Enhance Effectiveness of Nanoparticles in Groundwater Remediation, Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization Conference, Washington, DC.
Hovey C., Krajangpan S., Kalita H., Bezbaruah A.N..  2012.  Sustainable Groundwater Remediation with Biopolymer Coated Nanoparticles, World Environmental & Water Resources congress, Albuquerque, NM.
Archana A., Kalita H., Chisholm B., Bezbaruah A.N..  2012.  Nanoparticle Delivery Vehicles for Groundwater Remediation: Sustainability Evaluation Through Biodegradation Studies, World Environmental & Water Resources congress, Albuquerque, NM.
Kalita H., Chisholm B., Bezbaruah A.N..  2012.  Soybean-based Biodegradable Copolymer Coated Nanoscale Iron for Groundwater Remediation, World Environmental & Water Resources congress, Albuquerque, NM.
Pate M., Krajangpan S., Bezbaruah A.N..  2012.  Regeneration of Zero-valent Iron Nanoparticles for Environmental Remediation, World Environmental & Water Resources congress, Albuquerque, NM.
Krajangpan S., Chisholm B., Bezbaruah A.N..  2012.  Use of Amphiphilic Polysiloxane Graft Copolymer for Subsurface Delivery of Iron Nanoparticles for Groundwater Cleanup, World Environmental & Water Resources congress, Albuquerque, NM..