Behavior and fate of natural and engineered nanomaterials in water

This chapter reviews the behavior and fate of some nanomaterials (NMs) in the aquatic environment. Although many attractive and beneficial applications of NMs in water and wastewater treatment exist, uncertainties over health impacts and environmental fate of these NMs need to be addressed before widespread application. The sorption of inorganic and organic matter on NMs largely depends on their partitioning behavior to nanoparticles (NPs) and colloids. Fate and behavior of NMs not only depends on the physicochemical properties of NPs, but also on the characteristics of the receiving environment. The chapter presents the most commonly used NM applications and behavior in the water environment. Stable and dispersible NMs are bioavailable, which leads to accumulation in aquatic ecosystems and toxicity where unstable (aggregate) NMs accumulate in sediments. Therefore, surface-modified NPs have been synthesized to increase the stability and prevent homo and hetero aggregation and sedimentation.