Page 401 - Environmental Nanotechnology Applications and Impacts of Nanomaterials

384 Environmental Applications of Nanomaterials

Interaction of organic pollutants
with carbon nanomaterials
Recently, interest has been focused on carbon nanomaterials, such as
single wall nanotubes and fullerenes, because of their unique chemical,
physical, and mechanical properties. Possible applications for these
carbon nanomaterials are in energy, space, medicine, industry, and envi-
ronmental applications, as well as concern about their environmental
impact (Borm, 2002; Dagani, 2003). Fullerene (C 60 ) interactions with
common environmental contaminants, such as naphthalene and 1,2-
dichlorobenzene, have been studied on C 60 large aggregates (20–50 m),
C 60 small aggregates (1–3 m), and nC 60 (about 100 nm) (Figure 10.5).
2.39!0.02
A linear isotherm (K d 10 C), a Freundlich isotherm (q

50000

40000
q (µg/g) 30000

20000

10000
0
0 2 4 6 8 10
C (µ /mL)
g
w
(a)
100000

+
10000 +
q (µg/g) +

1000

100
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10
C (µ /mL)
w
g
(b)
Figure 10.5 (a) Naphthalene adsorption to C 60 large aggregates ■, C 60
small aggregates , nC 60 ▲ (b) Adsorption and desorption of naphthalene
with nC 60 ; o and , desorption of naphthalene from nC 60 . Straight line,
a linear isotherm in the form of q(µg/g) 103.75 Cw (µg/mL); upper
curve, model fitting curve assuming two-compartment desorption model.
(Cheng et al., 2005).