Nanotechnology has beneficial applications in medicine, electronics, manufacturing, and environmental remediation. Environmental remediation is one of the most promising large-scale applications of engineered nanoparticles. Apart from their increased reactivity due to high surface area to volume ratio, the novel properties of some engineered nanoparticles enable multi-functional and selective treatment strategies for contaminants that are hard to treat using conventional methods. Our group is interested in sustainable application of nanotechnology for industrial wastewater treatment and environmental remediation, bearing in mind that wide adoption of the technology relies on its cost-effectiveness, and human and environmental safety. Our team also employs machine learning as a tool to further optimize nanotechnology-based treatment systems.

Specific current research projects include:

• Immobilization of arsenic in soil by nZVI and SnZVI
• Co-removal of copper and phosphate in wastewater by iron nanoparticles
• Applicability of nanoremediated soils for agricultural purposes

Selected Publications

Han, Z.; Salawu, O. A.; Zenobio, J. E.; Zhao, Y.; Adeleye, A. S. (2021). Emerging investigator series: immobilization of arsenic in soil by nanoscale zerovalent iron: role of sulfidation and application of machine learning. Environmental Science: Nano, 8:619-633.

Su, Y.; Jassby, D.; Zhang, Y.; Keller, A. A.; Adeleye, A. S. (2020). Comparison of the colloidal stability, mobility, and performance of nanoscale zerovalent iron and sulfidated derivatives. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 396:122691.