The market for nanomaterials continues to grow rapidly with a projected global value of $1 trillion by 2015. Such large scale production and use of manufactured NPs will inevitably lead to release to the environment, including directly and indirectly into groundwater.
To protect groundwater from this new pollutant we must be able to develop nanoparticle transport models which predict nanoparticle movement within the aquifer. We are achieving this using a novel combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic susceptibility measurements (MSM) which enable us to look inside rock and image the movement of the nanoparticle pollutants within. These considerably enhanced datasets will enable us to test and develop the much needed nanoparticle transport models required for effective risk assessment and management of groundwater resources.
This project is a joint proposal with the University of Birmingham.
