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Fate and Transport of Elemental Copper (Cu0) Nanoparticles through Saturated Porous Media in the Presence of Organic Materials
Citation:
Jones, E. H. AND C. SU. Fate and Transport of Elemental Copper (Cu0) Nanoparticles through Saturated Porous Media in the Presence of Organic Materials. WATER RESEARCH. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 46(7):2445-2456, (2012).
Impact/Purpose:
Journal article for Water Resources
Description:
Column experiments were performed to assess the fate and transport of nanoscale elemental copper (Cu0) particles in saturated quartz sands. Both effluent concentrations and retention profiles were measured over a broad range of physicochemical conditions, which included pH, ionic strength, the presence of natural organic matter, and an organic buffer (trizma). At neutral pHs, Cu0 nanoparticles were positively charged and essentially immobile in porous media. The presence of natural organic matter, trizma buffer and high pH decreased the attachment efficiency facilitating elemental copper transport through sand columns. Experimental results suggested the presence of both favorable and unfavorable nanoparticle interactions causes significant deviation from classical colloid filtration theory.
