Environment and Nanotechnology - Institute for Chemical Education

Environment and 

Nanotechnology 

By Angela Jones, Ph.D., Jeanne Nye and Andrew Greenberg, Ph.D.

From lakes to oceans, from air to 

soil, from forests to deserts, 

from farms to cities. 

How can small science help us 

protect such a big beautiful 

world

What is nanotechnology 

A description - 

• Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at 

dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers, or 

nanoscale. 

• Unusual physical, chemical, and biological properties can 

emerge in materials at the nanoscale. These properties may 

differ in important ways from the properties of bulk materials 

and single atoms or molecules. 

• Encompassing nanoscale science, engineering, and 

technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, 

modeling, and manipulating matter at this length scale. 

Resource: www.nano.gov 

Note: This slide and the next 9 slides are the same for all research areas.

How BIG is nano 

Macrosize 

meters, decimeters, centimeters, millimeters 

Child 

Hand 

Pink y Finger 

Freckle 

Strand of Hair 

10 0 10 -1 10 -2 10 -3 10 -4 

A child is about 1 meter tall 

1 meter = 1,000,000,000 nm 

(1 billion nanometers) 

A hand is about 1 decimeter wide 

1 decimeter = 100,000,000 nm 

(100 million nanometers) 

A pinky finger is about 

1 centimeter wide 

1 centimeter = 10,000,000 nm 


A freckle is about 1 millimeter wide 

1 millimeter = 1,000,000 nm 


A hair is about one tenth of a 

millimeter wide 

0.1 millimeter = 100,000 nm 

(100 thousand nanometers) 

Microsize 

micrometers 

Nanosize 

nanometers 

Red Blood Cell 

Bacter ia 

Virus 

Cell Membrane 

Sugar M olecule 

Atom 

10 -5 10 -6 10 -7 10 -8 10 -9 10 -10 

A red blood cell is about 

10 micrometers wide 

10 micrometers = 10,000 nm 


A bacterium is about 

1 micrometer wide 

1 micrometer = 1,000 nm 


A viron is about one tenth 

of a micrometer wide 

0.1 micrometer = 100 nm 

(1 hundred nanometers) 

A cell membrane is about 

10 nanometers wide 

10 nanometers = 10 nm 

A sugar molecule is about 

1 nanometer wide 

1 nanometer = 1 nm 

An atom is about one tenth 

of a nanometer wide 

0.1 nanometer = 0.1 nm 

Created in 2008 by Sciencenter, Ithaca, NY, www.sciencenter.org 

Accompanying book available for purchase at www.lulu.com 

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Agreement No. ESI-0532536. 

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) 

and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Nanoscale 

1 nanometer = 

1 billionth (10 -9 ) of a 

meter 

D 

10 9 D 

a marble

Why do we care 

Things behave differently at this scale 

• Quantum mechanics plays a 

much more important role 

• For example, 

– A brick of gold is shiny and 

“gold”-colored. 

– A vial of gold nanoparticles in 

solution can be a range of colors 

depending on the size of the 

nanoparticles. 

– This is because of a phenomenon 

know as quantum confinement. 

Suspensions of discrete (separated) 

gold nanoparticles in clear solution 

vary in color from pink to purple as 

the nanoparticle size gets bigger. 

Image source: “Causes of Color”, WebExhibits, 

http://www.webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/9.html

Why else do we care 

This is the scale of biological processes 

• Human cells and bacteria have 

diameters around 1-10 

micrometers 

BUT 

• Cellular machinery is on the 

nanoscale 

– Diameter of DNA is ~2 

nanometers 

– Hemoglobin, the protein that 

carries oxygen through the 

body, is 5.5 nanometers in 

diameter 

Structure of DNA 

PDB ID: 1BNA 

Structure of hemoglobin 

PDB ID: 1BUW

One more reason: surface area 

Another reason nanomaterials behave differently from bulk materials of 

the same chemical is because of surface area – or the area of an object 

that is an exposed surface. 

Volume 

(in cubic meters): 

Surface Area 

(in square meters): 

1 m 

For this cube, each 

edge is 1 meter in 

length. 

1 m 

1 m 

For these 

cubes, 

each edge 

is 0.1 

meters in 

length, but 

there are 

1000 

cubes. 

1m X 1m X 1m = 1 m 3 (0.1m X 0.1m X 0.1m) X 1000 cubes = 1 m 3 

(1m X 1m) X 6 sides = 6 m 2 (0.1m X 0.1m) X 6 sides X 1000 cubes = 60 m 2

Surface Area and Reactions 

• This increased surface area allows chemical reactions to 

go much faster. 

• Think about it this way: 

Which dissolves faster in your coffee or tea, a sugar 

cube or a teaspoon of granulated sugar 

Answer: 

Granulated 

sugar

Nano-enabled Consumer Products 

As of the March 10, 2011, there are over 1300 

consumer products around the world that are 

manufacturer-identified as nanotechnologybased. 

• Touch screens (iPhone)• Bicycles 

• Sunscreens • Fabric 

• Cosmetics 

• Computer memory 

• Tennis rackets • Many more… 

These products are here, ready to buy today! 

Resources: 

The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies website: http://www.nanotechproject.org/

Activity Description 

• You have been assigned an area of nanotechnology research 

to support. 

• Go through this presentation and any other credible sources 

to identify three benefits of research in nanotechnology 

toward your area of interest and up to three potential risks 

you perceive in your area of interest. 

• As a group, we will weigh the risks and benefits of each area 

to decide how much of our federal nanotechnology budget 

should go to each research area.

Disclaimer: 

this is a contrived scenario 

• There are no federal nanotechnology budget cuts 

– $1.7 billion estimated for FY2012 (fiscal year 2012) 

– Increased investment proposed for FY2013 (nearly $1.8 billion) 

• Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (NSET) subcommittee of 

the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on Technology 

is an actual government entity 

– Composed of representatives from 25 federal agencies (NIH, DOE, DOD, etc.) 

– Purpose is to coordinate planning, budgeting, and implementation of the 

National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) 

– These representatives work together to create an integrated federal program. 

• Actual nano “budget” is different from what is proposed in this activity 

– Actual “budget” is given as a supplement to the President’s 2013 Budget 

Request submitted to Congress 

– It represents the sum of the investment in nanotechnology and nanoscience 

planned for 2013 by federal agencies 

– The agencies submit how much they are planning to spend on nanoscience 

– In the activity scenario, we’re doing the opposite of what the actual NNI 

Budget represents in that we’re distributing a pre-determined amount 

amongst these research areas. 

Resources: 

NNI Budget website: http://www.nano.gov/about-nni/what/funding

Green Science 

In this presentation, you will learn about 

some of the developments in 

nanotechnology in cleaning up the 

environment.

Consider the following when learning about 

these developments: 

1. Might these nanotechnology developments 

infringe on human rights to privacy and 

freedom 

2. Is it safe for me Is it safe for others 

3. Could the use of this nanotechnology 

development have unwanted and negative 

environmental effects 

4. What economic impact could the use of this 

nanotechnology development have on 

producers, consumers, and other industries 

Might they be negative or positive

What About Your Rights 

If so, are these 

developments more 

important than 

• Your privacy 

• Your rights as a citizen 

• Your rights as a human 

being 

Are the answers 

somewhere in between 

Image source: http://www.info4security.com/Pictures/web/w/v/m/iStock_Law.jpg

Links to outside sources 

• Within this presentation will be many underlined 

words. If you click on the underlined text, your 

browser will take you to other websites, videos, or 

other resources to learn more about what is on the 

slide. 

• These links are chosen to give you additional 

information, but these presentations can stand 

alone. It is unnecessary to go to the links for the 

purpose of this activity. 

• We try to make sure the links are active, but given 

the ever-changing nature of the internet, you might 

find a few that take you to a location that is no 

longer active. Please let the facilitator know if you 

find an inactive link.

Environment 

• Nanotechnology is making significant 

improvements in technologies for protecting the 

environment. 

• Nanoscale devices are being used for enhanced 

sensing, treating and remediating environmental 

contaminants. 

• Someday we may be able to prevent pollution with 

the help of nanotechnology. 

• On the other hand, nanotechnology's unique 

characteristics may also lead to unforeseen 

environmental problems. 

Resource 

“Nanotechnology Basic Information,” United States Environmental Protection Agency, 

http://www.epa.gov/ncer/nano/questions/index.html

Nanosensors and the 

environment 

Nanosensors can be used to detect and track pathogens (germs), 

contaminants, nutrients, environmental characteristics (light/dark, 

hot/cold, wet/dry), heavy metals, particulates, and allergens. [1] 

• Scientists at Pacific Northwest National 

Laboratory (PNNL), in partnership with 

PANalytical B.V., developed Functionalized 

Nanoporous Thin Films (FNTF). [2] 

• The technology is a low-cost, highly-selective 

means for detecting heavy metals in 

aqueous (water) environments. [2] 

• It allows testing for virtually every heavy 

metal (including mercury, lead, and 

cadmium) with potential to negatively affect 

human health and the environment, and 

increases sensitivity by more than a thousand 

times the previous capability. [2] 

Resources [1] “Nanotechnology,” National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 

http://www.nifa.usda.gov/ProgViewOverview.cfmprnum=16500 

[2] “Coating helps increase water testing sensitivity by one thousand times ,” PNNL, 

http://www.pnl.gov/business/stories.aspx#story21 

Artistic rendering of the 

Functionalized Nanoporous Thin 

Films, Image credit: PNNL

nanoDESI 

Cars, fires, industrial manufacturing plants, and others produce a 

complex variety of chemicals in the air, often to the detriment of the 

environment and our health. 

• Traditional methods for determining the 

chemical makeup of the air around us 

requires expensive equipment and experts 

for preparation of the sample to be tested. 

• Researchers at the PNNL developed the 

nanoDESI to make it faster and easier to 

make those measurements. 

• For analysis, the sample is first dissolved into 

a liquid (called a solvent), then the 

dissolved sample is made into an aerosol of 

ions by nano-electrospray ionization. 

• Now that the sample is aerosolized, the 

particulate can be analyzed using a high 

resolution mass spectrometer. 

Created at PNNL, the nanoDESI 

requires no sample preparation and 

provides a reliable, simple way to 

introduce samples into a mass 

spectrometer for detailed analysis. 

Photo Credit: PNNL 

Resources [1] “Scientific Stimulus Produces Results: A cascade of opportunities are unleashed by one instrument, a novel idea, and EMSL's 

intramural program,” EMSL, http://www.emsl.pnl.gov/news/viewArticle.jsparticleId=147 

[2] “New Technique Provides Sensitive Analysis of Atmospheric Particles,” PNNL, 

http://www.pnl.gov/science/highlights/highlight.aspid=813

Environmental Cleanup 

“Environmental remediation deals with the removal of pollution or contaminants 

from environmental media such as soil, groundwater, sediment, or surface water 

for the general protection of human health and the environment.” [1] 

Nanoscience is making great strides in remediation research. 

• Scientists from Pacific Northwest National 

Laboratory (PNNL), the University of 

Washington, and Oregon Health & Science 

University developed superparamagnetic 

nanoparticles capable of absorbing heavymetals. 

[2, 3] 

• The magnetic nanoparticles are decorated 

with chemicals that can capture metal ions. 

[2, 3] 

• They tested their nanoparticles in river water 

spiked with seven environmentally relevant 

heavy-metals. [2, 3] 

Cartoon of magnetic nanoparticles 

capable of absorbing heavy-metals from 

water sources. Image credit: EMSL 

Resources [1] “Environmental remediation,” Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_remediation 

[2] “A Better Drop to Drink: Method for creating nanoparticle heavy-metal sorbents saves water—literally,” Environmental 

Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) http://www.emsl.pnl.gov/root/news/viewArticle.jsparticleId=118 

[3] Warner, C. L., et al. "High-Performance, Superparamagnetic, Nanoparticle-Based Heavy Metal Sorbents for Removal of 

Contaminants from Natural Waters." Chemsuschem 3.6 (2010): 749-57.

Nanotechnology and Oil Spills 

Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 

2010. What followed was an 87 day underwater leak of oil that wreaked 

havoc to aquatic life and human life. There are many proposed ways 

that nanotechnology can be applied to oil spill clean up, many of which 

are outlined at this link. Below is just one of many. 

• Researchers at MIT developed a mat of 

nanowires that can absorb up to 20 times 

its weight in oil. 

• After cleaning up oil from water, the oil 

can then be recovered by heating the 

membrane above the boiling point of the 

oil so that it evaporates. 

• The vapor can then be condensed back 

into liquid, and the oil AND the nanowire 

membrane can be used again! 

Top: Swatch of oil-absorbing nanowire 

mesh. Bottom: Scanning electron 

micrograph of the nanowire mesh. 

Photo credit: Francesco Stellacci, MIT, 

and Nature Nanotechnology 

Resources [1] Thomson, E., “MIT develops a 'paper towel' for oil spills,” MIT News, http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/oil-paper-0530.html 

[2] Yuan, J. K., et al. "Superwetting Nanowire Membranes for Selective Absorption." Nature Nanotechnology 3.6 (2008): 332-36.

Nanotechnology and Air 

Pollution 

• Researchers at PNNL have also 

developed new materials that 

inexpensively capture carbon dioxide 

(CO 2 ) efficiently and selectively. 

• They’ve used materials based on metalorganic 

frameworks (MOF) to make tiny 

“cages” capable of capturing the CO 2 . 

• These MOFs have 2-3 times the CO 2 

capacity compared to conventional 

sorbents. 

• Releasing the CO 2 from the MOF 

requires just the pull of a vacuum, while 

other technologies require heating up to 

release the gas. 

• The CO 2 can then be pumped deep into 

the Earth where it becomes stable in the 

form of carbonate minerals. 

Transmission electron micrograph of 

PNNL’s MOF nano-crystals 40 

nanometers in size. In the insert in the 

upper left-hand corner, you can also 

see the uniformity of the nanopores that 

capture the CO 2 . Image Credit: PNNL. 

Resources [1] Thallpally, D. and P. McGrail, “Molecularly organized nanomaterials for carbon dioxide capture,” Pacific Northwest National 

Laboratory ,” http://www.pnl.gov/nano/research/pdf/mof_flier_12-02-2010.pdf

Fossil Fuel Consumption 

According to the World Coal Institute, 

“At current production levels coal will be available for 

at least the next 119 years - compared to 46 years for oil 

and 63 years for [natural] gas.” [1] 

119 years 46 years 63 years 

In the words of Thomas Edison in 1931, 

“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I 

hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle 

that.” [2, 3] 

Resources: 

[1] http://www.worldcoal.org/coal-society/coal-energy-security/ 

[2] Newton, J. Uncommon Friends: Life With Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Alexis Carrel, and Charles Lindbergh. New 

York: Harcourt, 1987. 

[3] Abbott, D. “Keeping the Energy Debate Clean: How Do We Supply the World’s Energy Needs” Proceedings of the IEEE. Volume

Solar Energy 

• The world population currently consumes 

energy at a rate of 15 terawatts (TW). 

• After accounting for solar energy that is 

reflected back into space and absorbed by 

clouds, we are left with 85 petawatts (PW) or 

85,000 TW available for solar collection on 

Earth. 

• If we consider only the solar power that hits 

desert regions of the world, we still get 7,650 

TW. That’s over 500 times our current world 

consumption! 

Resource: Abbott, D. “Keeping the Energy Debate Clean: How Do We Supply the World’s Energy Needs” Proceedings of 

the IEEE. Volume 98, Issue 1: 43-66. 

Note: These values are available power. This does not account for energy conversion efficiency of solar cells or solar 

collectors.

Nanotechnology is Making Solar 

Power Cheaper 

One example is the use of organic photovoltaic 

cells (OPV) instead of the more common silicon 

crystal solar cells. 

• Made from light-sensitive polymers [1] 

• These polymers can be dissolved in liquids, 

and so they can be used in screen printing, 

inkjet printing, and spray deposition (like spray 

paint) which make manufacturing materials 

using high-throughput processes like roll-to-roll 

printing (think newspaper printing) possible, 

and this can drive the cost down [2]. 

• Though conversion efficiency is typically on 

the order of 5% [1], scientists are working on 

improving that through controlling nanoscale 

morphology [2]. 

Resources: [1] Jacoby, M. "The Power of Plastic." Chemical & Engineering News 88.34 (2010): 12-16. 

[2] Mayer, A. C., et al. "Polymer-Based Solar Cells." Materials Today 10.11 (2007): 28-33.

Energy Generation and 

Storage 

• There are currently many nanotechnology 

based projects in the area of energy 

generation and storage. 

– Affordable solar cells (like in the previous slides) 

– Better rechargeable batteries 

– Hydrogen storage for hydrogen fuel cells 

– More durable gas turbines 

– Cost effective and sustainable biofuel 

production 

– Many, many more… 

• For more, go to the Energy presentation on 

this website.

Green Manufacturing 

According to the EPA, 

“Nanotechnology offers the possibility of 

changing the manufacturing process in 

2 ways: 

• Incorporating nanotechnology for 

efficient, controlled manufacturing 

[that] would drastically reduce 

waste products 

• The use of nanomaterials as 

catalysts for greater efficiency in 

current manufacturing processes by 

minimizing or eliminating the use of 

toxic materials and the generation 

of undesirable by-products and 

effluents” [1] 

Waste 

Resources [1] “Nanotechnology: Green Manufacturing ,” EPA, http://www.epa.gov/ncer/nano/research/nano_green.html

Nanocatalysts 

Nanocatalysts will process waste into food, feed, industrial chemicals, 

biofuels and energy. [1] 

Catalysts are molecules that can speed up a chemical reactions, and the 

increased surface area of nanocatalysts lead to even faster reactions! 

• In a collaboration between Rice University 

and Lehigh University, researchers have 

developed a nanocatalysts that will make 

the oil refining process more efficient and 

better for the environment. [2, 3] 

• Rice University Prof. Michael Wong says the 

following about his discovery, “Improving a 

catalyst can… make the chemical process 

more environmentally friendly. Knock those 

things out, and they gain efficiencies and 

save money.” [2] 

Resources [1] “Nanotechnology,” National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 


This is a scanning transmission 

electron microscope (STEM) image of 

the nanocatalyst (green circles) on 

zirconia support. The other circles 

show the less-active forms of the 

nanocatalyst. Photo Credit: Wu 

Zhou/Lehigh University via PhysOrg. 

[2] Williams, M., “Nanocatalyst is a gas: Rice U. formula could make fuel manufacturing better, greener,” Rice News & Media 

Relations, http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.aspMODE=VIEW&ID=14752 

[3] Soultanidis, N., et al. "Relating N-Pentane Isomerization Activity to the Tungsten Surface Density of Wox/Zgo(2)." Journal of the

So, Isn’t This Great News 

To summarize and elaborate on positive points 

already made which promote the use of 

nanoparticles in the environment - 

1. Nanosensors can be used to identify pollutants 

faster and cheaper. 

2. Nanocatalysts and nanoparticles can be used to 

clean up pollution in the ground, air or water. 

3. Nanoscience is making great strides in not only 

making the manufacturing and use of fossil fuels 

more environmentally friendly, but also in 

advancing alternative energy sources like solar 

energy, batteries, fuel cells, and biofuels.

But… 

• What are there unintended consequences to the 

environment in using nanotechnology They could 

cause unexpected and dangerous problems in 

plants, animals or the environment. 

• What is the cost to the environment when we 

manufacture and use nanomaterials and 

techniques

Nanomanufacturing problems 

Researchers at the University of Illinois at 

Chicago (ref. 1) have found that some 

nanomanufacturing processes are expensive 

and not very environmentally friendly: 

• Strict purity needed for starting materials 

• Repetitive processing steps 

• Processing requires extreme environments 

– High temperatures 

– Cryogenics (extremely cold) 

– Cleanrooms 

• Use of toxic chemicals and solvents 

• Generation of greenhouse gases 

• High usage of energy and water 

• Low yield compared to starting materials 

NASA’s Microsystems Fabrication 

Laboratory Cleanroom. Photo 

credit: Marvin Smith/ NASA 

As a result, the EPA is pushing 

for research in improved 

nanomanufacturing 

processes that are more 

environmentally benign. [2] 

Resources [1] Sengul, H., T. L. Theis, and S. Ghosh. "Toward Sustainable Nanoproducts: An Overview of Nanomanufacturing Methods." 

Journal of Industrial Ecology 12.3 (2008): 329-59. 

http://www.uic.edu/depts/ovcr/iesp/Publications/Faculty%20Publications/Theis/Theis_Toward%20Sustainable%20Nanoproducts 

.pdf 

[2] Savage, N., “Research Advancing Green Manufacturing of Nanotechnology Products,” EPA, 

http://www.epa.gov/nanoscience/quickfinder/green.htm

Green Nanoscience 

• Jim Hutchinson, chemistry professor at the 

University of Oregon, is leading the way to push 

using principals of green chemistry as 

nanoscience develops. [1] 

• He is director of Safer Nanomaterials and 

Nanomanufacturing Initiative, the goal of which 

is to “develop new nanomaterials and 

nanomanufacturing approaches that offer a 

high level of performance, yet pose minimal 

harm to human health or the environment.” [2] 

• Go to this link to watch a video from 

ScienCentral where Prof. Hutchinson describes 

this work. 

N 

A 

N 

Resources [1] “Hutchinson Advocates for Green Nano,” University of Oregon CAScade, http://cascade.uoregon.edu/fall2008/naturalsciences/hutchinson-advocates-for-green/ 

[2] Safer Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing Initiative website, http://www.greennano.org/

Environment Websites 

These websites can help you find more information on nanotechnology 

in the environment. The last link connects you to general nanoscience 

sites. 

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Nanoscience website 

http://www.epa.gov/ncer/nano/index.html 

• USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Nanotechnology 

website 


• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Nanoscience and the 

Environment website http://www.pnl.gov/nano/environment.stm 

• Brochure on Nanoscience at the Environmental Molecular Sciences 

Laboratory (EMSL) 

http://www.emsl.pnl.gov/root/publications/brochures/nanoscience_ 

at_EMSL.pdf 

• A Presentation from Cynthia Folsom Murphy and David Allen, 

University of Texas, October 4, 2004 

• Numerous nanoscience sites are linked here: Websites

Nano-enabled consumer 

products 

To learn more about nano-enabled consumer products in all areas of 

research visit the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies 

• Established in April 2005 as a partnership between the Woodrow 

Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Pew Charitable 

Trusts 

• “The Project is dedicated to helping ensure that as 

nanotechnologies advance, possible risks are minimized, public 

and consumer engagement remains strong, and the potential 

benefits of these new technologies are realized.” 

• Their website includes news and publications about issues with 

nanotechnology. 

• It also includes inventories of consumer products that are 

manufacturer-identified as nanotechnology based, and as of the 

March 10, 2011 update, there are over 1300 products around the 

world. 

Resources: 

The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies website: http://www.nanotechproject.org/

More on the website 

If time allows, return to the main website 

and watch some of the videos that 

provide “expert testimony” in the area of 

nanotechnology and the environment. 

Click here

Environment and Nanotechnology - Institute for Chemical Education

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