Nanomaterials are being produced globally - the worldwide market for products incorporating nanotechnology is estimated to be $2.4 trillion dollars by 2014. Nanomaterials have a tremendous range of beneficial uses including controlled delivery of therapeutic agents, efficient conversion of solar energy to electrical energy, and effective removal of micropollutants from water. In spite of their many beneficial applications, nanomaterials may have unintended adverse effects on natural and engineered systems. The principal objective of this proposal is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the effect of a variety of nanomaterials on bacteria, particularly those found in engineered systems pertaining to drinking water, wastewater, and water reuse.
The proposed research tasks will be conducted to test the following four hypotheses: (1) bacteria develop increased tolerance and resistance to nanomaterial insults, (2) nanomaterial insults change microbial community structure, (3) biofilm bacteria respond differently than planktonic bacteria to a nanomaterial insult and (4) biofilm mechanical properties are affected by nanomaterials. In this research, six common nanomaterials carbon fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, nanoscale cerium oxide, nanosilver, nanoscale titanium dioxide, and nanoscale zero valent iron will be examined for their effects on pure bacterial cultures and on mixed microbial communities representative of drinking water, wastewater, and water reuse applications.
The educational plan includes shadowing a high school class of predominantly minority students through 4 years, creating a program to increase interactions between graduate engineering and science students, and organizing a student symposium on nanomaterials in the environment.
