Nanocleaners!

Nowadays it is hard to believe how nanotechnology is present in a lot of products we consume. From tennis balls to lithium-ion batteries in power tools, nanotechnology is growing at a fast pace. A new interesting application of nanotechnology is wastewater treatment. There is an interesting group of materials called carbon-based fullerenes. These fullerenes have high affinity for electrons and react easily with nucleophiles; making them a viable new technology to get rid of organic contaminants present in water.


Source:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buckminsterfullerene-2D-skeletal.png

Reference: Bottero, J., J. Rose, M.R. Wisner. 2006. Nanotechnologies: Tools for Sustainability in a New Wave of Water Treatment Processes. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 2:391-395