Federal University of

Technology, Owerri
Seminar Presentation On
The Application Of
Nanotechnology in Microbial
Pollution Control
By
Eze Chinwe Catherine
Department of Environmental
Technology

Introduction and Definition of Nanotechnology

The study of manipulating matter at atomic and molecular scale, a

creation of functional materials, devices and systems through
control of matter on nanometer scale
National Nanotechnology Initiative defined it as as the
understanding and control of matter at the nanoscale, at
dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers, where
unique phenomena enable novel applications.

Conceived in 1959 by Nobel Laureate physicist Richard P.

Feynman in an inspiring lecture titled There's Plenty of Room at
the Bottom" at an American Physical Society meeting.

First coined in 1974 by Japanese scientist Norio Taniguchi in a

paper titled On the Basic Concept of Nanotechnology. He defined
it as consisting of the processing of, separation, consolidation and
deformation of materials by atoms or molecules.

Interest in nanotechnology boomed after the discovery of

buckminsterfullerene in 1985 by Noble Laureates Richard Smalley,
Robert Curl, and Harry Kroto.

Popularised by American engineer K. Eric Drexler in the book

Fundamentals and
Approaches to
Nanotechnology
The fundamentals
of nanotechnology lie in the fact that properties of substances
dramatically change when their size is reduced to the nanometer

thermal and electrical conductivity,

optical absorption emission spectra, and electronic properties - develop selective
sensors for water quality monitoring,toxic or harzadous environment
mechanical strength, and viscosity , ,short intraparticle diffusion distance

highly specific surface area with associated sorption sites -adsorption, fast
dissolution, high reactivity(polishing step to remove organic and inorganic
contaminants in water and wastewater treatment).

photosensitivity, catalytic and anti - microbial activity - destroy recalcitrant

pollutants,

and magnetic properties for, particle separation and reuse, tunable pore size and
surface chemistry are size dependent

The two fundamentally different approaches to technology are graphically termed

'top down' and 'bottom up'.

The small size of nanomaterials gives them specific or enhanced physico-chemical

properties, compared with the same materials at the macroscale,

Nanomaterials
ENMs
can be divided into four different classes:
Characteristics
Carbon-based materials (e.g. fullerenes), Metal-based materials (e.g.
TiO2 NPs),
Dendrimers (e.g. nano-sized polymers), Composites (i.e. mixtures of
NPs).
layers, multi-layers, thin films, platelets One-dimensional nanomaterials
and surface coatings. They have been
developed and used for decades,
particularly in the electronics industry.
nanowires, nanofibers made from a Two-dimensional nanomaterials
variety of elements other than carbon, fullerenes
nanotubes and, a subset of this group,
carbon nanotubes. A fullerene : molecule
composed entirely of carbon, in the form of
a hollow sphere, ellipsoid, or tube.
Spherical
fullerenes
=buckyballs.
Cylindrical ones =carbon nanotubes or
buckytubes.
precipitates, colloids and quantum dots Three-dimensional-nanomaterials
(tiny
particles
of
semiconductor nanoparticles: metallic, semiconductors or
materials), Nanocrystalline materials
oxide particles having dimensions between 1
to100nm

Challenges in
Conventional water
treatment techniques

- Space requirements

- Monitoring difficulties

- Extended treatment time

- very costly and labour- intensive

Aging water treatment and distribution systems in many cities

cannot ensure reliable disinfection

some systems serve as incidental sources of microbial diseases

produce carcinogenic disinfection byproducts (DBPs), such as

trihalomethanes, haloamides, halonitriles, and bromate.

microbial infiltration, biofilm formation, and biofouling, corrosion

Some microbial processes of concern to the O&G

industry.

sulphate-reducing bacteria in well bores and O&G fields sour

hydrocarbon reservoirs due to the generation of hydrogen
sulfide (H2S).biocorrosion
These sulfides also can precipitate as biogenic minerals in
pipelines and drilling fluids leading to flow obstruction,
interruptions in extraction processes, and higher water
requirements for O&G extraction.
Conventional biocides -low specificity to sulfate-reducing

Biofouling Control

Applications of Carbon nanotubes

(CNTs)

a special class of fullerenes with

antimicrobial properties
physical interaction in which CNTs pierce
cells, thus inhibit microbial attachment
and biofilm formation on surfaces,
inactivate viruses
high
mechanical
strength,
heat
resistance, and easy cleaning.

Applications of
nanoparticles

Silver ions: generated from the silver surface bind to the reactive group in the
target cell or organism, resulting in their precipitation and inactivation, kill both
gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. especially, Staphylococcus
aureus, E.coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas .

Combined with TiO2 nanoparticles, can be used to enhance antibacterial,

deodorizing, and photocatalytic effects of TiO2 (Three-bond chemicals) in the
presence of light and humidity.

Gold Magnetic nanoparticles are being developed to adsorb metals and organic
contaminants.

Cerium oxide (CeO2) can be used as a diesel fuel combustion catalyst, which
reduces fuel consumption, carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, and other harmful
exhaust emissions

Nanoparticles can be mixed with water to form a slurry that can be injected using
pressure or gravity into a contaminated plume . Once injected, the particles remain
in suspension, forming a treatment zone.

A. Nanorust cleans arsenic from drinking water

B. Nanoscale zero-valent iron encapsulated in an emulsion droplet.
These nanoparticles have been used for remdiation of sites
contaminated with variuos organic pollutants
c. Nanotechnology-enabled integrated urban water management

Application in
bioremediation
bioremediation makes use of enzymes
specificity and targeted effectiveness than synthetic catalysts.

lack of stability and relatively short life

provide cost effective options.

inhibit their ability to

Methods such as enzyme immobilization, enzyme modification,

and genetic modification, to improve the stability and subsequent
persistence of enzymes.

Nanotechnology: a new method of enzyme stabilization single

enzyme nanoparticles (SENs) armored enzymes surrounded by a
protective cage a few nanometers thick . The cage is actually a
silicate shell, linked with the surface of the enzyme. While it
covers most of the enzyme, the active site remains chemically
accessible, maintaining the functionality of the enzyme

used to remediate recalcitrant compounds, withstand more extreme

conditions, such as high/low pH, high contaminant concentration, high
salinity, and high/low temperature. Enzymes also do not require
nutrients and biomass

acclimation. Metabolic intermediates and by products, as well as

mass transfer limitations due to cellular transport, are avoided as
well.

Generally, it is a much easier process to control than whole cell

degradation

Other uses include:

Nanoscale additives to or surface treatments of fabrics help them resist
wrinkling, staining, and bacterial growth

water-repellent, antireflective, self-cleaning, Nanoscale thin films on

eyeglasses, computer and camera displays, windows,

Nano-engineered materials make superior household products such as

degreasers and stain removers; environmental sensors, alert systems,
air purifiers and filters

Emerging Nanotechnology-Enabled
Disinfection and Microbial Control
Applications
Unlike conventional chemical disinfectants, antimicrobial
nanomaterials are generally weaker oxidants and do not produce
harmful DBPs(disinfection byproducts)

Naturally occurring antibacterial macromolecules, such as

chitosan (obtained from chitin in arthropod shells), could also be
useful in water disinfection.

Chitosan can be made into nanoparticles with broad disinfection

capabilities. The antimicrobial mechanisms of (positively-charged)
chitosan likely involve its interaction with negatively-charged cell
membranes.

applications in air, water pollution treatment

Antimicrobial nanomaterials are envisaged to find their

applications in three critical challenges in water/wastewater
systems: disinfection, membrane biofouling control, and biofilm
control on other relevant surfaces.

Nano-catalysts with increased surface area are used for gaseous

reactions. Catalysts work by speeding up chemical reactions that
transform harmful vapors from cars and industrial plants into
harmless gases

Nanobiosensors

Sensors are sophisticated instruments which respond to physicochemical and biological aspects and transfer that response into a
signal or output that can be used by humans. They allow the
detection of contaminants such as microbes, pests, nutrient
content

One of the major roles of nanotechnology enabled devices is to

increase the use of autonomous sensors linked to a global
positioning system (GPS) system for real time monitoring.
Nanoparticles or nano-surfaces can be engineered to trigger an
electrical or chemical signal in the presence of a contaminant
such as bacterium.

Risks for the future

Environmental Risks

Biological damage

to date, adverse effects on populations or communities of

organisms in situ have not been investigated

benefit discovered under laboratory conditions may not be

realised on a commercial scale

The issue of bioaccumulation and entry of nanoparticles

and tubes into the food web has yet to be seriously
addressed.

Potential Human Health Concerns

Dermal absorption problems: (so small they may pass

through cell membranes)

Inhalation (go to the deep lung and may translocate to the

brain i.e, could cross the blood brain barrier)

Socio Economic risks

Loss

of jobs (manufacturing, farming,

etc)
Oil

Becomes worthless

Diamonds
Atomic

become worthless

weapons more accessible

and destructive

Conclusion

Environmental nanotechnology would be

the new innovation to remediate and
treat the contaminants to acceptable
levels, for pollution prevention,
detection, monitoring and remediation of
pollutants.

In order to apply nanotechnology

safely, legislation and regulation
should be effective worldwide.

Thanks!!!!
Presentation by Eze Chinwe
Catherine
+234 8033409778