Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT)

Developing benchmarks for Transport of Nanomaterials in the environment (Lowry and Tilton)

The aggregation of Fe0 nanoparticles and subsequent deposition onto sand grains limits their transport in the porous media.

The goal of this project is to increase our understanding of the physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials and the environment properties that control the fate and transport of nanomaterials in the environment.

Assessing the fate of surface coatings on manufactured nanomaterials (Gregory and VanBriesen)

Hypothesized mechanism for the reduction and removal of surface coatings attached to engineered nanomaterials.

The coatings on nanomaterials control their interactions with environmental surfaces and with biota. These coating also affect nanomaterial toxicity so understanding the fate of the coatings is essential for determining nanomaterial fate in the environment. This project will determine the accessibility of nanomaterial coatings (e.g. PEG) to microorganisms in the environment.

Elucidate the nanomaterial-macromolecule interactions for nanoparticles in environmental systems and physiological fluids. (Tilton and Lowry)

Polymeric surface coatings on engineered nanomaterials inhibit their deposition onto surfaces and biota, thereby limiting the mobility and toxicity of nanomaterials.

This project will develop the appropriate conceptual model for nanoparticle-macromolecule interactions within each of the following classes: Synthetic anionic polyelectrolytes, Humic acid, Polysaccharides, and Proteins.

Atmospheric transformations of naturally occurring, incidental, and engineering nanomaterials (Robinson and Donahue)
Engineered and incidental nanoparticles released to the atmosphere will undergo oxidation and surface modification. The resulting surface chemistry will determine the fate of those particles in environmental systems and potentially their toxicity and impact. The project will develop two atmospherically relevant model systems for nanoparticle aging, characterize that aging process, and to deliver samples of aged material in sufficient quantity (20 mg or more) to our colleagues for toxicity research. Each model system will consist of a pair of core nanoparticles, one engineered and one incidental, coated with one of several sets of condensable material formed in the Carnegie Mellon Smog Chamber.

Assessing the risks of nanomaterials released to the environment (Casman)
This project will develop new risk models for nanomaterials released to the environment. The risk model will identify the primary uncertainties in the processes affecting fate, transport, persistence, and transformation of nanomaterials in the environment.

APPLY TO CEINT

CEINT @ CMU Ph.D. graduate fellowships are available for motivated students from engineering, chemistry, and related fields. Students with a B.S. and/or M.S. degree in engineering or related field are encouraged to apply.

Interested students should apply for admission directly with the CEINT-associated department listed on our application page. In the student’s statement of purpose indicate interest in applying as a CEINT Graduate Fellow. Upon admission to that department’s Ph.D. program, you will be considered for a CEINT Graduate Fellowship. Initial points of contact for admission to each of the departments are provided on our application page.