The Impact of Nanotechnology on Environment

Abstract

Nanotechnology is an emerging field that covers a wide range of technologies which are presently under development in nanoscale. It plays a major role in the development of innovative methods to produce new products, to substitute existing production equipment and to reformulate new materials and chemicals with improved performance resulting in less consumption of energy and materials and reduced harm to the environment as well as environmental remediation. The environmental impact of nanotechnology is the possible effects that the use of nanotechnological materials and devices will have on the environment. This impact can be split into two aspects: the potential for nanotechnological innovations to help improve the environment (beneficial part), and the possibly novel type of pollution that nanotechnological materials might cause if released into the environment (harmful part). The nanoparticles can be used an individual product in pure form or as an adjuvant with existing products in order enhance their activities. The beneficial aspects of nanoparticles include water filtration and treatment, green energy synthesis, degradation of plastics, detoxification harmful dyes and chemicals. The harmful aspects consist of unwanted by-products of nanoparticles, effluents of nano industries, etc.