INFLUENCE OF SURFACE OXIDES ON THE ADSORPTION OF HYDROPHOBIC ORGANIC CHEMICALS AND HEAVY METALS ONTO CARBON NANOTUBES

摘要

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a novel class of engineered macromolecular nanomaterials consisting of a hexagonal array of carbon atoms rolled into a long, thin cylinder. Due to their highly desirable material properties, CNTs are one of the most widely utilized classes of nanomaterials. In 2004, the global annual production of multi-walled CNTs was 100 tons and this is expected to increase to more than 250 tons by 2007. As their industrial manufacture continues to expand, there will be a commensurate increase in the quantity of nanomaterials released into different ecosystems. However, to date the technological and commercial advances in nanotechnology are outpacing our understanding of the health and environmental impact of engineered nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Thus, the underlying structure-activity relationships that govern the fate and environmental impact of CNTs in soils and sediments, contaminated groundwater, drinking water and the atmosphere needs to be identified now, before more widespread commercialization occurs.