Use of iron nanomaterials for the treatment of metals, metalloids and emergent contaminants in water

Title : Use of iron nanomaterials for the treatment of metals, metalloids and emergent contaminants in water

Abstract:

Iron-based nanomaterials are increasingly used in environmental applications. Different types of iron-based nanomaterials, namely, zerovalent iron nanoparticles, nanoparticles of iron oxides, and nanoparticles prepared from iron salts and natural extracts by green procedures, are briefly mentioned in this presentation, together with their preparation, characterization, and applications on the treatment of pollutants in water, with emphasis on works performed in the last 10 years. In terms of preparation, top-down procedures such as mechanical milling, nanolithography, laser ablation, sputtering, and thermal decomposition, and bottom-up methods such as chemical synthesis, sol-gel, spinning, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), pyrolysis, and biosynthesis are possible for nanoparticle production. The most commonly used nanomaterials are inorganic nanoparticles based on metals and metal oxides and, among them, iron-based materials have been widely used in the removal of pollutants in water. Among pollutants, heavy metals and metalloids (e.g., Hg, Pb, Cr, Cu, As, Ni, Zn, Cd, and Ag), halogenated organics, nitroaromatics, pesticides, dyes, antibiotics, halogenated aromatics, phenolic compounds, PCBs, nitrate, and some radioisotopes have been successfully treated; antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and negative bacteria is also reported. In some cases, iron-based nanoparticles have been combined with H₂O₂ in Fenton processes. In this presentation, examples of treatment of metals and metalloids and other emergent contaminants are specially discussed. The advantages of using these materials and the need for their improvement to extend their deployment are remarked.

Biography:

Prof. Litter is Dr. in Chemistry (Buenos Aires University, Argentina), with postdoctoral studies (University of Arizona, USA). She is Senior Researcher at the National Research Council and Full Professor at the National University of San Martín (Argentina). She has more than 250 publications in journals and books. She received several prizes such as the Prize for Latin American Women in Chemistry (2021), the Houssay Prize (2022), the Konex Platinum Prize (2023) and the CIPOA Senior Researcher Award in the fields of CIPOA (2024). She is a Member of TWAS, ACAL, and President of the Argentine Academy of Environmental Sciences.