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Nanomaterials: Ecotoxicity, Safety, and Public Perception pp 305–317Cite as

Microparticle-Supported Nanocomposites for Safe Environmental Applications

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Abstract

Utilization of nanotechnology and nanomaterials is an integral part of modern life. The increased use of nanomaterials in various consumer products, industries, medical instruments, and information technology and energy sectors has created research interest because of their potential toxicity for the environment . Nanomaterials can also be added directly and indirectly to the soil and water treatment plants to reduce pollutant concentrations. Nanoparticles may enter the aquatic system through runoff and industrial effluent discharge, therefore, potentially contaminate both the aquatic and terrestrial systems. Researchers have used laboratory experiments to understand the effect of nanomaterials and their transformation in water and soil environment. The transformation of nanoparticles in the environment involves various physical and chemical processes, and their degradation/transformation products may introduce further toxicity. Various microparticles or host materials can be used to support or coat nanoparticles in order to reduce their toxicity. Microparticles including clay minerals, polymer , carbon -based materials (biochar ) are popular to support nanoparticles due to their large surface area and improved functional characteristics. This chapter aims to give an overview of the risks associated with using nanoparticles , and how to reduce the possible toxicity related to nanoparticles by using microparticle host materials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia

    Sanchita Mandal & Binoy Sarkar

  2. Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK

    Binoy Sarkar

  3. Division of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, 132001, India

    Raj Mukhopadhyay

  4. Department of Ecological Studies, International Centre for Ecological Engineering, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, West Bengal, India

    Jayanta Kumar Biswas

  5. Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India

    K. M. Manjaiah

Authors
  1. Sanchita Mandal
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  2. Binoy Sarkar
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  3. Raj Mukhopadhyay
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  4. Jayanta Kumar Biswas
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  5. K. M. Manjaiah
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Correspondence to Binoy Sarkar .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati, Maharashtra, India

    Mahendra Rai

  2. International Centre for Ecological Engineering, Department of Ecological Studies, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India

    Jayanta Kumar Biswas

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Mandal, S., Sarkar, B., Mukhopadhyay, R., Biswas, J.K., Manjaiah, K.M. (2018). Microparticle-Supported Nanocomposites for Safe Environmental Applications. In: Rai, M., Biswas, J. (eds) Nanomaterials: Ecotoxicity, Safety, and Public Perception. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05144-0_15

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