Analysis of Nano material : Coursework Sample
Table of Contents
Introduction to nanomaterials. 2
Types of nanomaterials. 2
Functionality of nanomaterials. 3
Textile industry. 4
Environmental and energy impact 5
Biological impact on the environment 7
Toxicity. 8
Conclusion. 9
Reference: 10
Introduction to nanomaterials.
Purpose of this analysis is to study about the Nanomaterials, kinds of Nano materials their uses and limitations. This is probed in detail in the following analysis.
The basic explanation of the Nano Material is that they are lesser than 100 Nano meters who has diverse application in many sectors. s.
Nano materials have a wide variety of applications in many sectors. They have unique properties. There is a high surface to volume ratio that has wide industrial and environmental applications (Qu et al., 2012).). On the other hand, the limitation of the Nano materials is the high level of toxicity and they are found to increase the environmental pollutants. There is a need to study the stability, chemistry and migration of these compounds to understand their significance. Given the fact that the Nano materials has wide range of applications there is a need to develop innovative compounds and particles that is beneficial to all the stakeholders. Currently there are many kinds of Nano particles in the markets that are commercially used for a variety of practices and in many sectors (Botes & Eugene Cloete, 2010)).
Types of nanomaterials
Based on the functionality, physical and chemical charecteristics the Nano materials are classified into four kinds.
They are the Currently the kinds of nanomaterials can be classified into four major groups. It is the Carbon based materials, Metal based material, Dendrimers and composite.
Carbon based materials are compounds that is made mostly of Carbons. Also refered to as the spherical and ellipsoidal carbons. . These are spherical and ellipsoidal carbon Nano-materials that are referred to as fullerenes or nanotubes. They have improved films and coating that are made of stronger lighter materials (Ozin, Arsenault & Cademartiri, 2009).
Metal based materials are made of quantum dots, Nano gold, metal oxide or even Nano silver. The quantum dot is a semi conduction crystal that is composed of thousands of atoms which has a number of industrial applications. By the process of changing the size of the quantum dots there can be change in the optical properties (Cao, 2004). The third classification of the Nano materisla are the dendrimers.
Dendrimers are Nano materials are made of Nano sized particles that are built from branch united. The surface of the dendrimer has numerous chain ends. These can be changed to meet the specific chemical functions. These properties are used for the catalysis functions (Ruiz-Hitzky, Ariga, & Lvov 2008). The 3-d dendrimers is used for drug delivery.
Composite is a kind of Nano material that is used with the other Nano particles. These Nano particles are Nano sized clays that is used for the products that range from auto parts to a range of industrial activities. These are marked by mechanical, flame retarded properties (Geckeler, & Nishide, 2009).
The unique properties of these Nano materials are used to form novel compounds. There is also the formation of newer materials where the special properties are identified. There are a number of Nano materials that is used in the application field.
Functionality Uses of nanomaterials
Some of the uses of the Nano materials applications are discussed in detail in the following. They are currently used in the graphene production for the use of electroodes in ultracapacitors. This is used to increase the functionality of the batteries. There are the attaching strands of the DNA that are connected to the graphene that is used to form the sensory for the faster diagnosis.
Nanomaterial Applications are found to be useful when they are mixed with the Nanocomposites
Nanotube-polymer nanocomposite is made to form a scaffold this is used for the replacement of broken bones. This is done by the use of graphene-epoxy nanocomposite
Nanomaterial Applications are enhanced in the use of Nanofibers. There is the production of Nano fibreres that is found to increase the performance of the flame retarded materials. This is very useful in the furniture’s.
Therapeutic and the pharmacological industry.
These nanoparticles are used for the delivery of the chemotherapy drugs that is used to treat cancer tumors, prevent autoimmune disease and are used to deliver drugs to the targeted sites. There is a wide ranging use of Nano materials in the field of medicine.
Biological labels in the labs.
The optical properties of the Nano particles depend on the plasma and the free electrons. There is the use of the clusters that are used in the biological labels and also in the electroluminescent displays of the dyes. This makes them effective indicators and is used in the labs for the same purpose. There are some limitations and issues that have prevented the Nano particles from being used on a wider commercial scale. The major reason for it is the cell toxicity of these material. The cell toxicity of the material has impeded the progress of the Nano material. This is the controversial aspect that has prevented the use of the AgNP (Fryxell, & Cao,2012). They are used as dyes in the PCR and in DNA analysis owing to their electroluminescent properties. .).
Textile industry
Nano particles are used in many sectors owing to their environmental application. Because of their unique properties they are used in a wide range of sectors. They are used in the disinfection of the medical devices to the water treatment. They are also used in the textile industry. It is mixed with the textile to prevent the growth of the E.Coli. The electrochemical properties of the Nano particles have caused for faster response time and the detection limits are found to be lower. The bleaching of the organic dyes is also done by the application of the AgNP (Chinnapongse, MacCuspie, & Hackley, 2011).
In reality there are much more research that are being conducted to develop the use of the Nano materials. Only some of the uses of the Nano material have been elucidated in this analysis.
Environmental and energy impact
There are many uses for the Nano particles in the current times. In the following analysis the impact of Nano materials in the purification process have been explained in detail.
In the modern times, there is rising costs in conventional products and there is a need to develop a number of products that are environmentally friendly and also ensure the sustainability of the products. The Nano consumer products are currently being considered for the commercial production of the products.
These Nano materials are used in the Li-Ion batteries, membrane fuel cells and in dye sensitive solar cells. These are used in the micro power operating electronic devices. These are piezoelectric Nano fibers used in clothing, carrier materials and also used in many catalysts and in the photocatalytic water purification systems.
There is the use of Nano materials in the development of diesel engines. The fumes and the environmental impact of the fumes are reduced by the use of these Nano materials. Platinum component is used in the engineer production. The catalyst is used to reduce the exhaust fume particles. The reduction catalyst is used in the nitrogen atms from the NOx Molecules to free oxygen. The oxidation catalyst of these compounds are found to oxidize HC+ and in the CO- to form Co2 and Water molecules.
Another important role of the particles are in the water purification of the systems.
Given the synthetic methods the chemical reduction method is also used for the AgNP and in the AuNP synthesis. In the environment the monosaccharide and the polysaccharides are used for the reduction of the silver or the gold Nano particles. This is reduced to the AgNP this has many uses particular the use in the field of water purification deserves special mention. The reason being the costs involved in the process is substantially low. In the current times it is used in the sand filtration. This is used in the combination with the water purification to control the microbial contamination. The sand filters are generally very less expensive when compared to the other water treatment methods. The natural zeolites in these compounds are found to be effective cation exchanged. This enables in greater purification of the water (Lara, et al., 2011). Fibre glass-reinforced plastics (FRPs) is used in the treatment of water and it is also in great use in the chemical industry. A number of research in the past has been conducted and there has been successful implementation of the Ag/zeolite, Ag/sand, Ag/fibreglass and Ag/resin Nano particles. Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenterae and Salmonella typhimuriu are most common batceria that is found in the ground water. It has been found that AgNP has the ability to treat these bacteria and provide an alternative cost effective technology (Kittler et al., 2010).
The World Health Organization has stated that more than 1.5 million deaths are simply because of the unsafe water consumption in the nations. The cost of water purification in the nations is very high and this causes the people to not get fresh clean water. This in turn causes many diseases. These leads to negative spiraling of effects. Of these more than 90% of the mortality rates are found in the developing nations. These water are found to be contaminated with E.coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella dysenteriae to name a few (Ren, & Smith, 2013). This is found to cause a wide variety of gastro intestinal infections and diseases. The safe drinking water is found to cause a significant role in the well-being of the people. The UNICEF and the WHO has stated that the agenda is to find a way to purify water with reduced costs. The cost effective filter materials need to be coated with the silver nanoparticles (AgNP). This is found to be a viable solution for purification of the water. .The Silver Ion (Ag+) has been known to be a strong antimicrobial agent. They have been used for the control of Legionella bacteria in the hospitals. It has also been prescribed to newborn babies in some instances. The fundamentally bind to the bacterial cell and enzymes at multiple locations. They then damage them from prevention to perform the function of the microbe. They affect the specific DNA and RNA of the microbial agent. The bactericidal activity is owing to the high surface to volume ratio (Dankovich, & Gray, 2011). There has been indication the recent studies about the different methods of distinctive preparation of the AgNP. Owing to these combination of factors in the recent times the researcher have combined the AgNP for its strong and comprehensive anti-microbial activity. These AgNP are deposited on the solid materials and are made to treat with the microorganism in the water treatment. This is also feasible to produce using low cost methods. Owing to this there can be the development of drinking water plants that are solely dependent on the AgNP for the purification of the water (Li, & Lenhart, 2012). The biochemical aspects of this AgNP is that they affect the bacterial cell wall and the cell membrane. They interact with the DNA, RNA of the compound. They cause eventual cell disintegration of the compound. It has been found that the silver-sulphur compound interaction causes the cell to undergo structural changes. The cellular compounds are thus released into the extracellular matrix of the bacteria. There is a considerable change in the osmotic pressure of the compound. This causes the DNA to condense. The DNA when it is in the condensed state do not indulge in replication. This is how the AgNP particles cause cell death (Xue et al., 2012). In some cases, the Silver comes in contact with the fluids. They ionize with the Nano particles and causes bactericidal activities. This impacts and impedes the cell ability to produce the required ATP. It has been found that this varies based on the organism and its innate cell composition. In the current times many of the antibiotics is found to have this Silver compound for the bactericidal activity. For the purification of water there is a need to consider drinking water and the treatment of waste water. It has been found that the Nano particles are effective in the treatment of both factors for lower costs. This is the broad signification of the past research that has been found. The reason for developing a preference for the use of AgNP is their unique ability of the ions to disintegrate the bacteria and prevent the replication of the bacteria
Among all the Nano particles that are found in the markets, 313 products are used for Nano-sized Silver particle. The Silver Nano particles (AgNP) is found to be used in a variety of research methods. It is used in the chemical reduction, photochemical reduction and also in the electrochemical techniques in the markets. The compound is used in medicine, pharmacology and in environmental protection. The compounds antimicrobial activity is the reason for the compound to be used widely. Given the synthetic methods the chemical reduction method is also used for the AgNP synthesis. In the environment the monosaccharide and the polysaccharides are used for the reduction of the Ag(NH3)2 complex. This is reduced to the AgNP this has many uses particular the use in the field of water purification deserves special mention. The reason being the costs involved in the process is substantially low. In the current times it is used in the sand filtration. This is used in the combination with the water purification to control the microbial contamination. The sand filters are generally very less expensive when compared to the other water treatment methods. The natural zeolites in these compounds are found to be effective cation exchanged. This enables in greater purification of the water (Lara, et al., 2011). Fibre glass-reinforced plastics (FRPs) is used in the treatment of water and it is also in great use in the chemical industry. A number of research in the past has been conducted and there has been successful implementation of the Ag/zeolite, Ag/sand, Ag/fibreglass and Ag/resin Nano particles. Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenterae and Salmonella typhimuriu are most common batceria that is found in the ground water. It has been found that AgNP has the ability to treat these bacteria and provide an alternative cost effective technology (Kittler et al., 2010). There is the need for developing the optimal concentration of the AgNP to remove the pathogenic microbial bacteria. This will be feasible for the rural communities.
Biological impact on the environment
When used in the aquatic environment the silver Nano particles are found to be toxic to the metallic organism. It has been found to be detrimental to the algal species and thereby affecting the aquatic organism that are exposed to these Nano Materials NP are found to be very much dependent on the dose and it hinder the normal growth and development of the aquatic organisms (Blinova et al., 2013). The reality is that the impact of the Nano particles on the environment is still not known (Durán, et al., 2010). The detrimental effects of these compounds must be known for the compounds to become safer (Prabhu, & Poulose, 2012). Hence there is a need to address these compounds and issues to develop feasible solutions.
Cytotoxicity arises when the cells of the Nano particles are made to reach with high volumes of NP for long duration of time (Oukarroum et a., 2012). For example The lower level of exposure to the silver causes the silver to be deposited on the body. Higher level of silver in the air leads to a range of respiratory illness and lung infection. It also causes stomach irritations and allergic reactions (Kittler, et al., 2010). There are rashes, swelling and inflammation. These depends on the amount of explore the individuals have towards the silver compounds.
Toxicity
It has been found that the Nano materials are toxic when they reach a certain concentration in the environment. The toxic effect depends on the size, base material of the Nano particle. It is in reality very difficult to measure the Nano particle toxicity. If the size of the Nano particle is lesser than the issues that stem from it are found to be more toxic (Tran, & Le, 2013).
The impact of Nano Particles in the environment is not known completely. The impact depends on the duration of exposure, amount of exposure and NP compound that interacts with organism (Rao, Müller, & Cheetham, 2006). They are beneficial but prove to be detrimental to the people. Owing to this this research in Nano particles has not been fully formulated and used in the commercial scale (Kaegi et al., 2011). There is many research that has been undertaken in the recent times to develop the treatment of the water and water plants.
Conclusion
Nano particles are the compounds that have high surface to volume ratio. It has been found that the compounds can be used in a variety of sectors. There are more than 1000 Nano Particles that are in use, of these many are commercially viable. There are four major kinds of Nano materials that are currently in development. The Nano materials are used in a variety of industries. It is used in the purification process and in a number of other sectors. There is high level of toxicity that has been observed in these compounds. The real impact of the Nano materials is not known and owing to this there has been impediment in the development of these compounds. Future research should be directed towards reducing the toxicity and improving the functionality of the Nano materials. This has the potential to revolutionize the future if the research is able to overcome the impediments.
The limitation of this analysis is that Nano materials is huge field with diverse applications. Only few are discussed in this analysis.
Reference:
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