title: Adsorbed triblock copolymers deliver reactive iron nanoparticles to the oil/water interface.
abstract: Reactive zero valent iron nanoparticles can degrade toxic nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPL) rapidly in contaminated groundwater to nontoxic products in situ, provided they can be delivered preferentially to the NAPL/water (oil/water) interface. This study demonstrates the ability of novel triblock copolymers to modify the nanoiron surface chemistry in a way that both promotes their colloidal stability in aqueous suspension and drives their adsorption to the oil/water interface. The ability of the copolymers to drive adsorption is demonstrated by the ability of copolymer-modified iron nanoparticles, but not the unmodified iron nanoparticles, to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890, USA.
authors.forename: Navid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.forename: Tanapon
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Phenrat
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sirk
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dufour
authors.forename: Jeongbin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ok
authors.forename: Traian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sarbu
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matyjaszewski
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Tilton
authors.forename: Gregory V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Lowry
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D009821:Oils; D011108:Polymers; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D007501:Iron