Nanotechnology And The Environment Cora Ebert

What is Nanotechnology Nanotechnology can be defined as the understanding and control of matter at a scale between 1 and 100 nanometres (Eggen, J. M. (2012). It can have both a positive and negative effect on many fields, including the environment, and environmental issues.

Environmental Issues Climate change: Is a long term effect, due to an increase in the overall atmospheric temperature (Climate change, 2013 ). Occurs due to human impacts on naturally occurring processes. Figure 1, picture of the earth, one half being effected by climate change the other half hasn’t, reprinted from Larvatus Prodeo, M Bahnisch (2011). Retrieved from turnbull-and-reframing-the-climate-change-debate/

The Greenhouse Effect Is the natural warming of the earth’s surface, by the trapping of heat by gases that absorb heat present in the atmosphere (Knox, Ladiges, Evans, Saint, 2010 ). Figure 2 is an example of the Greenhouse effect Diagram, Reprinted from Parks Canada, Why is our climate changing, Retrieved from

Nanotechnology used to aid climate change Used for a number of different purposes, when aiding climate change, for example: Has been used to discover other forms of energy. Structures called MOF’s (Metal organic frameworks) have been created. A Non- porous membrane used as a filter has also been developed by scientists.

Other forms of energy Other forms of energy that may not be as harmful to the environment, compared to previous methods like the burning of fossil fuels (boysen& muir, 2011 ). With this knowledge, scientists have possibly created a method to convert carbon dioxide into other fuels, for example methane. Figure 3 shows the burning of Methane gas, Reprinted from The daily great discoveries channel galaxy, R. Sabo (2007). Retrieved from on-thi.html

MOF’s Metal organic frameworks have been created to capture Carbon Dioxide. Designed with tiny pores big enough to capture Carbon Dioxide and store it ( ( 9Chakrabarty 2008 ). Sequentrian is used to remove the Carbon Dioxide, to be stored in either permeable rocks under power plants or pumped in to used oil stations. Figure 4 is an example of an MOF, Reprinted from Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque. N (2012). Retrieved from gov/news/resources/news_releases/images/2012/

Non- porous membrane Used to filter out contaminants such as Carbon Dioxide. Filtered from power plant smoke stacks. Increases Carbon Dioxide concentration in the atmosphere, making it easier for the MOF’s to capture the molecules.

Chlorine removal Small grain sized balloons have been created for the removal of Chlorine. They are light enough to float up to the stratosphere. Each balloon contains a small solar power plant, a molecular processing plan, and a microscopic grain of sodium. Chlorine molecules are separated out. Chlorine and Sodium molecules are then combined, to create sodium- chloride salt. When Sodium is no longer present the balloon falls, leaving the stratosphere clean ( boysen& muir, 2011)

Other environmental issues that Nanotechnology an improve. Improve air, water and soil quality. Improve detection and sensing of pollutants. Develop new technologies for Remediation. Remediation: Reversing or stopping environmental change. Minimises the formation of pollutants, and allows for the control of their emissions.

Concerns Use of geo-engineering and new converging technologies at the Nano-scale as solutions to climate change could lead to new global problems (Hallstrom. H, 2008). May effects animal tissues. Anti-bacterial properties may harm microorganisms in both air and soil. Nano-pollution may occur. Generate reactive- oxygen species which can be chemically reactive molecules that damage proteins within cells.

Conclusion Aids some environmental problems, but effects others. Little is known about such effects. May cause both environmental and health problems. Lack of education on both the handling and proper removal of Nano-particles. Nano-particles may not be easily detected.

References Chakrabarty. A. (2008). Nanotechnology: An introduction. IN: Global Media. Climate change (2013) retrieved from on 10/05/ /05/13 Biswas, P., & Wu, C. (2005). Nanoparticles and the environment. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995), 55(6), 708. Earl Boysen, & Nancy C. Muir. (2011). Nanotechnology for dummies. US: For Dummies. Eggen, J. M. (2012). Nanotechnology and the environment: What's next? Natural Resources & Environment, 26(3), 51.

References continued Kim, J. (2011). Advances in nanotechnology and the environment. Hoboken: CRC Press. Ladiges, P. Y. (2010). Biology: An Australian focus. North Ryde, Sydney, N.S.W: McGraw-Hill. Images: ources/news_releases/images/2012/. ources/news_releases/images/2012/ ources/news_releases/images/2012/. ources/news_releases/images/2012/ the-climate-change-debate /.. the-climate-change-debate / Image retrieved from, on 16/05/13.