Browsing by Subject "Environmental Science"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
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    Environmental Nanotechnology: A Universal, Green Process for the Synthesis of Functional Nanocomposites
    (2020-09) Brockgreitens, John
    Environmental nanotechnology is broadly defined as the application of nano-scale materials (10^-9 m) to environmental systems as well as the impacts of these materials on air, water, and soil quality. There are significant advantages to using nanomaterials for pollution control due to their high reactivity and ability to specifically bind to target pollutants under diverse conditions. However, nanomaterials can have negative biogeochemical and toxicological effects in natural systems. Furthermore, nanomaterials can be difficult to identify and remove in natural and engineered systems. To facilitate the application of nanomaterials to pollution control, research has turned to using nanoparticles embedded in macro-sized support materials referred to as “nanocomposites.” The work presented here builds upon preliminary work on the synthesis of selenium nanomaterials for the removal of mercury from water. The synthesis process was simplified and expanded for use with four other nanomaterials: iron, copper, titanium, and zinc. These nanomaterials were utilized as high-efficiency pollutant binding “sorbents” for dissolved phosphorus, arsenic, and organic contaminants. Furthermore, titanium and zinc nanomaterials were successfully fabricated on textile materials to enable UV resistant and antimicrobial functionalities. Collectively, this work provides a fundamental basis for scalable nanocomposite synthesis with minimal chemical inputs and the diverse application of these composite materials.
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    Seedling Success Under Future Climate Scenarios
    (2012-04-18) Mau, Alida
    Forest Ecology is the study of the spatial arrangement ant interaction of flora, fauna, and other biotic and abiotic processes within an ecosystem. This ecosystem entails a natural woodland consisting of plants, animals, and micro-organisms, functioning together with nonliving elements within the same area. Minnesota represents the transition zone between the northern hardwood and the southern coniferous border which stretches across the US and Canada. By studying the individual species reaction to anticipated changes as a result of climate change within a controlled environment, forest managers determining timber stands and habitat management areas may be better prepared for possible shifts in species and communities. With the project currently in full swing, it has become apparent that the treatments with increased temperature and decreased precipitation favor oak species, inferring that these species will shift northward. Additionally, there has been a lower survival rate for all other species within this regime.