Artificially Intelligent Nanomaterials for Environmental Engineering

Peng Wang, Jian Chang, Lianbin Zhang

• Publisher: Wiley-VCH
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9783527344949
• eBook ISBN: 9783527816361
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Materials Science
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Presents novel, nanotechnology-based solutions for urgent environmental engineering problems

Clear and concise from beginning to end, this book focuses on the design and application of artificially intelligent nanomaterials, which help in solving many tangible environmental problems?especially water and air pollution. It lays out the design concepts, major chemical principles, and materials considerations of artificially intelligent nanomaterials for environmental engineering, and provides proof-of-concept examples such as improved filtration membranes, nanofibrous air filters, and molecularly imprinted nanomaterials.

Artificially Intelligent Nanomaterials: For Environmental Engineering starts by describing the background of environmental nanotechnology, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the current status of AI in environmental engineering. It then looks at: intelligently functional materials and responsive mechanisms; designing filtration membranes with responsive gates; switchable wettability materials for controllable oil/water separation; and self-healing materials for environmental applications. The book continues with chapters that examine: emerging nanofibrous air filters for PM2.5 removal; self-propelled nanomotors for environmental applications; molecular imprinting in wastewater treatment; and emerging synergistically multifunctional and all-in-one nanomaterials and nanodevices in advanced environmental applications.

-Presents the state-of-the-art in environmental technology and puts forward bold ideas for its advancement
-Addresses global challenges, including all important water and air quality which are critical for human health and a sustainable future
-Concentrates on nanotechnology-enabled solutions for pollutant removal from water and air

Artificially Intelligent Nanomaterials: For Environmental Engineering is an ideal book for undergraduates, graduates, scientists, and professionals in the fields of environmental science, material science, chemistry, and chemistry engineering.

1
Introduction

1.1 Global Challenges

Water, food, and energy security represent major challenges to the stability and continuity of human populations. However, rapid population growth and steadily improving living standards place enormous pressures on already stressed water resource and agricultural systems. Large amounts of energy are consumed to produce clean water and to treat wastewaters prior to their return to the environment, which inevitably leads to a considerable amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions as well as releasing other environmental pollutants.

At the global scale, about 2600 km³ of water are withdrawn to supply food‐driven irrigation needs every year. Viewed another way, agriculture consumes nearly 70% of total human freshwater withdrawals. This number is to increase to more than 83% by 2050 to meet the growing food demand by the rapidly growing population.

In the last 25 years, access to water with potable quality has gone up from 75% to 90% of the world population, and, nevertheless, 884 million people nowadays still lack access to adequate drinking water in many geographical regions [1]. Thus, ensuring a stable and sustainable water, food, and energy supply into the future is a priority for all nations.

Adding to an already dreadful situation, water pollution is becoming a major global challenge [2,3]. From the United Nations World Water Development Report in 2018, it is said that more than 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and more than double that number lack access to safe sanitation. With a rapidly growing global population, demand for water is expected to increase by nearly one‐third by 2050 [4]. In addition, WHO estimated that 361 000 deaths in children under five years due to diarrhea, representing more than 5% of all deaths in this age group in low‐ and middle‐income countries, could have been prevented through reduction of exposure to inadequate drinking water [5]. Thus, the ability to remove contaminants from these environments to a safe level and do it rapidly, efficiently, and with reasonable costs is important.

With the nonrenewable and pollutant‐laden fossil fuels dominating the global energy supply, representing 78% of the world's primary energy, air pollution is worsening in many parts of the world especially where the economy is heavily dominated by low‐tech manufacturing. Millions of people die every year from diseases caused by exposure to outdoor air pollution [6]. Ninety two percent of the global population, including billions of children, is exposed to hazardous effects of air pollution at which levels exceed WHO limits. Air pollution causes approximately 600 000 deaths in children under five years annually and increases the risk of respiratory infections, asthma, adverse neonatal conditions, and congenital anomalies.

1.2 Conventional Technologies in Environmental Science and Engineering

In the past century, the development in water and air treatment technologies by environmental engineers has significantly improved the quality of water and air. The research and relevant design of conventional water and air protection systems experienced its golden age in the first half of twentieth century and has gradually reached their steady states. At the same time, with the ever‐growing population and ever‐increasing life quality expectation, the demand for safe and clean water and air has never dwindled in the course of human existence and is gradually pushing existing technologies to their limits.

Conventional technologies, such as chemical coagulation [7], adsorptions [8,9], chemical treatment (e.g. advanced oxidation process [AOP]) [10–12], membrane‐based separation [13–15], and biological treatment [16,17], are based on bulk water chemistry.

Coagulation, which involves adding chemical coagulants into bulk source water, is commonly used in drinking water plants. The particles in source water that cause turbidity (e.g. silt, clay) are generally negatively charged, while coagulant particles are positively charged. In coagulation and subsequent flocculation, the formed particles in the form of flocs are settled out or later removed by filtration. The effectiveness of the coagulation is controlled by bulk water chemistry, such as dose of the coagulants added and pH, among others.

AOP, as a type of chemical treatment, involves accelerated production of highly reactive hydroxyl free radical to degrade the organic pollutants [18–20]. The degradation rates can be affected by several factors from the bulk water chemistry [21]. Adsorption is a process in which pollutants are adsorbed on solid surfaces [9,22]. Adsorption is a proven and much used water purification technique due to its low energy consumption and maintenance cost, as well as its simplicity and reliability. However, its performance relies on the concentration of the to‐be‐removed substances, the presence of other competing species, temperature, and pH of the bulk water.

Biological treatments rely on bacteria, nematodes, or other small organisms to break down organic wastes using normal cellular processes [23]. Biological wastewater treatment is often a secondary treatment process, used to remove remaining biodegradable organics after primary treatment. These processes can be either anaerobic or aerobic. “Aerobic” refers to the condition where oxygen is present, while “anaerobic” descr...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Fundamental Mechanisms of Intelligent Responsiveness
• 3 Filtration Membranes with Responsive Gates
• 4 Switchable Wettability Materials for Controllable Oil/Water Separation
• 5 Self‐Healing Materials for Environmental Applications
• 6 Emerging Nanofibrous Air Filters for PM2.5 Removal
• 7 Intelligent Micro/Nanomotors in Environmental Sensing and Remediation
• 8 Molecular Imprinting Materials in Environmental Application
• 9 Emerging Synergistically Multifunctional and All‐in‐One Nanomaterials and Nanodevices in Advanced Environmental Applications
• Index
• End User License Agreement