Nanotechnology for Environmental Remediation

The book examines the suitability of nanoscale zero-valent iron (ZVI) for degradation of agrochemicals for the purpose of developing a cost-effective treatment technology. It identifies by-products produced from the ZVI-mediated degradation process of particular contaminants, and clarifies the reaction mechanism by which ZVI degrades a chosen contaminant. It also assesses how the ZVI-based technology may be applied in complex, natural systems, the limitations to implementation, and possible avenues for further research which might improve the viability of the process.Nanotechnology not only represents the cutting edge of research in chemistry, but also has been of considerable interest in other multidisciplinary research areas such as biochemistry, medicine [for cancer detection and treatment], and materials science. Iron, which is widely available, has been used in a variety of areas, and recently nanoscale iron research has received significant interest. The newly discovered advanced oxidation technology using nanoscale zero-valent iron, which is reported in this book, could be widely used to treat pesticides, herbicides, and industrial chemicals as well as to purify contaminated water for domestic use. In addition, it can contribute to advancing science and technology and providing valuable information to all readers - researchers, scientists, engineers, and students - in this field for their further research and studies.