ABOUT THE COURSE:Environmental Nanotechnology and Applications course aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the principles of nanotechnology, nanomaterial synthesis and characterization techniques, as well as applications of nanotechnology in addressing environmental challenges. The application of nanomaterials and nanotechnology-based approaches in water and wastewater treatment will be explored in this course. The application of nanotechnology in adsorption, photocatalysis, filtration and disinfection will be covered in detail. Further, environmental health and safety aspects of nanomaterials, the potential risks and benefits of nanomaterials to human health and the environment will be covered in this course. By the end of the course, students should be gain knowledge skills in synthesizing and characterizing nanomaterials and will be able to critically evaluate the benefits as well as potential risks of nanotechnology in environmental contexts and apply this knowledge to real-world problems.INTENDED AUDIENCE: PG/PhD students of Environmental/Civil EngineeringINDUSTRY SUPPORT: Industries with high concentration of bio refractory pollutants in the effluent like textile/ printing/ pharmaceutical/ leather industries.Startups like Neer Shakti Systems Private Limited, Novorbis, NoPo Nanotechnologies, E-Spin Nanotech

Syllabus

Week 1: Nanotechnology – Introduction, classification based on dimension or type of nanomaterial, impact of nanoscale on material properties

Lecture 1: Introduction of Nanomaterials
Lecture 2: Types and properties of nanomaterials/nanocomposites

Week 2:Synthesis of nanomaterials – Bottom-up and top-down approach, Modes of synthesis for size and shape control, green synthesis of nanomaterial

Lecture 3: Nanomaterial synthesis through different methods
Lecture 4: Green synthesis of nanomaterials

Week 3:Characterization of nanomaterials and nanocomposites – Environmentally relevant characterization using SEM, TEM, BET, XRD, XPS etc

Lecture 5: Characterization of nanomaterials - I
Lecture 6: Characterization of nanomaterials - II

Week 4:Application of nanomaterials in environmental remediation – Briefing the conventional water/wastewater treatment units, Potential modification of water and wastewater treatment using by employing nanomaterials

Lecture 7: Conventional water wastewater treatment units
Lecture 8: Nanotechnology in water/wastewater treatment units

Week 5:Nanotechnology in adsorptive removal of pollutants- Synthesis of nano-adsorbents, Optimization of nano-adsorption unit for operating parameters, adsorption capacity of pollutants, adsorptive removal efficiency.

Lecture 9: Synthesis and properties of nano-adsorbent
Lecture 10: Nano-adsorbent in pollutant removal from water/wastewater

Week 6:Nanomaterials in photocatalysis - Photocatalyst preparation, modification, UV/solar photocatalytic system, photocatalytic treatment of wastewater, photocatalytic hydrogen production

Lecture 11: Photocatalysis – principle, nano photocatalyst preparation and modification
Lecture 12: Photocatalysis for wastewater treatment
Lecture 13: Photocatalysis for waster splitting and hydrogen production

Week 7:Removal of pollutants using nanofiltration techniques – Principle of nanomembrane filtration, synthesis and characterization of nanomembranes, design of nano filtration unit, water/wastewater treatment efficiency using nanomembrane unit.

Lecture 14: Basics of membrane filtration
Lecture 15: Nanomembrane synthesis and characterization
Lecture 16: Nanomembranes in water and wastewater treatment

Week 8:Nanomaterial based disinfection – Selection of nano-disinfectants, synthesis, modification, disinfection kineticsEnvironmental impacts of nanomaterials – Exposure and risk assessment, Dose-response, mechanisms of toxicity; ecotoxicological impacts of nanomaterials.

Lecture 17: Nano disinfectants for wastewater treatment
Lecture 18: Nanomaterial leaching and risk assessment