Past Seminars

The weekly seminar series organized by CNT and the Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute provides a forum for bringing national and international leaders in nanoscale science and technology to campus, and for graduate students enrolled in our Dual Ph.D. program in Nanotechnology to present their research.

All seminars are held on Tuesdays from 2:30 to 3:20 PM in Johnson Hall Room 102 (North end of building and across from MolE).

The University of Washington is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation contact the Disability Services Office at least ten days in advance at: (206) 543-6450/V, (206) 543-6452/TTY, (206) 685-7264 (FAX), or dso@uw.edu.

Seminars

2012-10-09

Environmental Nanotechnology: From Nanoprospecting to Global Descriptors for Environmental Modeling

Prof. Paul Westerhoff, Arizona State University - Engineering Center
Speaker's Website
Assoc.Prof. Jonathan Posner, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Engineered nanomaterials are entering the environment and their discharge will increase in the future. This presentation uses advanced analytical methodologies to explore the current occurrence of engineered nanomaterials across their life cycle from the point of synthesis, through products, intosewage, through wastewater treatment and into soils where biosolids were applied. In addition to identifying "known" nanomaterials (e.g., TiO2, CeO, Ag) we "prospect" for other nanomaterials across this lifecycle to understand "what else is out there". Then the presentation shifts to contrast fate and modeling approaches for other pollutants (metals, non-polar organics, etc) towards engineered nanomaterials. Some modeling approaches are empirical while others have thermodynamic justifications. The presentation will attempt to focus on thermodynamic justifications for what type of models could be used to predict the environmental fate and transport of engineered nanomaterials across their life cycle.