Nanomaterials and waste water treatment Opportunities and issues to consider

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1 Nanomaterials and waste water treatment Opportunities and issues to consider Dr David Carlander Engineered nanomaterials in the waste water treatment process and associated environments NanoForum September, Rome, Italy

2 Nanotechnology Industries Association the sector-independent, responsible voice for the industrial nanotechnologies supply chains the only global industry-focused trade association for the nanotechnology sector proactively supports the on-going innovation and commercialisation of the next generation of technologies and promotes their safe and reliable advancement cooperates with regulators and stakeholders on national, European and international levels so as to secure a publically and regulatory supportive environment for the continuing advancement and establishment of nanotechnologies

3 Key Enabling Technology

4 Commercialisation patterns and regulations [Modified from Lux Research Inc., Murday et al Nanomedicine NBM, 2009, Vol.5(3), ]

5 Two main groups of nanoproducts Homogenous composition (e.g. PET bottles, tires, li-ion batteries) Heterogeneous composition (e.g. cars, electronics) Different end of life considerations and possibilities

6 Nanomaterial production volumes Estimate 11.5 million tonnes worldwide annually Carbon black (9.6 million t) Synthetic amorphous silica (1.5 million t) Aluminium oxide ( t) Barium titanate ( t) Titanium dioxide ( t) Cerium oxide ( t) Zinc oxide (8 000 t) CNT/Carbon fibres several hundred tonnes Nanosilver around 20 tonnes

7 To waste or nanowaste That is the question! Explore the costs and benefits of resource recovery approaches for nanomaterials in waste streams Following developments in the area SMEs may have limited resources to focus on waste Interest to better understand, optimise and communicate the waste management process Safety by design avoid downstream complications Recovery/reuse of expensive/rare materials

8 Types of waste with nanomaterials 1. Waste produced during manufacturing of nanomaterials and nanotechnology-derived products 2. Waste generated during product use (e.g. degradation, abrasion, grinding or cutting of products containing nanomaterials or the nanoproduct itself) 3. Waste from the handling process (e.g. incineration, shredding for recycling, sewage sludge used in agriculture)

9 Nanowaste or waste containing nanomaterials? Are there any specific aspects for nanowaste not observed with other waste? Is nanowaste specific? If so, to what degree? Frame the issue of nanowaste on the basis of existing information on waste disposal routes Separate implications on human health and the environment caused by waste containing nanomaterials and what the processes in waste treatment plants and in the environment may create

10 European Commission definition of nanomaterial

11 Technical definition Nanowaste (OECD Scoping paper 2011) 1. Incidental nanomaterial 2. Non-functional or irrecoverable by-product, product or nanoscale debris, comprising, containing or bound to nanostructured material or its discarded residues "By-product" refers to chemicals or nanostructured material directly resulting from a nanomanufactuing process or nanoproduct manufacturing process, of which the primary aim is not the production of that chemical or nanostructured material. "Product" refers to articles including nano-enabled devices and applications, nanomaterial components integral to nanoproduct function, as well as materials or equipment (e.g. packaging, filters) designed to support nanoproduct lifecycle requirements. From ISO standards, principally ISO/TS 27687:2008 Nanotechnologies Terminology and Definitions for Nano-objects Nanoparticle, Nanofibre and Nanoplate (ISO, 2008), ISO/TS :2010 Nanotechnologies Vocabulary Part 1: Core terms (ISO, 2010a) and key aspects of the European Union s new Waste Framework Directive (European Commission, 2008)

12 Nanowaste management Nanowaste management is not fundamentally different from conventional chemical waste management a) Reduction in the amount of waste produced b) Reuse of the material c) Resource recovery (e.g. recycling) d) Energy generation e) Disposal (landfill) Nanomaterials does not represent a new type of waste category in such that current methods dealing with waste would be inappropriate to the handling of nanowaste

13 Nanomaterial production and waste considerations

14 Waste processes and environmental considerations What is the presence of nanomaterials in waste streams? Reactivity, aggregation/agglomeration? Persistence, Bioaccumulation, Toxicity Nanomaterial properties impacts waste treatment processes (composition, form, shape, surface charge, solubility, surface functionality ) Reuse and recycling development and optimisation of processes Incineration generation of incidental nanomaterials irrespective of size/composition of input materials

15 Nanomaterials in waste water Waste water treatment systems using physical, chemical and biological process Waste water emitted to environmental compartments Sludge from waste water treatment can be incinerated, used for agricultural purposes, or landfill

16 Manufacturing mitigation measures applied Manufacturing design process Fume hood during manufacturing Filters (purification of exhaust air) Filters, masks, gloves, personal protection equipment (PPE) Reduce the time of exposure Closed systems, vacuums, dust collection facilities Process structure (e.g. maintenance)

17 Examples of nanowaste practices On-site incineration On-site waste water treatment On-site recycling/reuse Transferring nanowaste to contractors with our without information Disposal of nanowaste into general sewer Sending nanowaste to landfill Storage on site

18 Legislation and regulations Nanowaste is covered by general waste regulations of individual countries and partly by EU legislation REACH Regulation prescribes that registration dossiers for chemical substances must include information on substance disposal (SDS information) EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)

19 Electronic and Electrical Equipment Waste from Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive (2012/19/EU) of the European Union Article 8: The Commission is invited to evaluate whether amendments to Annex VII are necessary to address nanomaterials contained in EEE Annex VII: Selective treatment for materials and components of waste electrical and electronic equipment referred to in Article 8(2)

20 Assessment methods Assessment of hazards and risks with chemical waste is in general based on the same testing methods and guidance as the ones that OECD WPMN has concluded are also applicable to nanomaterials

21 Guidance is available Development of disposal procedures and technologies that can be used for the safe and environmentally sound disposal of nanowaste British Standards Institution, Disposal of manufacturing process waste containing manufactured nano-objects - guide (PAS 138:2012), guidance on the safe disposal of manufacturing process waste that contains unbound nanomaterials E.g. UK recommends high-temperature incineration of carbon nanotubes

22 Gaps in information regarding nanowaste Nanomaterial production levels and nanomaterial-based consumer products on the market Point air emissions of nanomaterials Non-point air sources of nanomaterials Point sources of nanomaterials into waterways Uses of nanomaterials for wastewater treatment Non-point water sources of nanomaterials Amounts and types of nanomaterials in landfills, waste storage, and waste treatment facilities Accidental releases of nanomaterials Intentional uses of nanomaterials for environmental remediation and treatment (Powell et al., 2008)

23 Beneficial aspects in waste management Better products! Use of nanomaterials can result in stronger and longerlasting materials, lower amounts need to be used and products last longer The use of nanomaterials can result in lower amounts of some waste types being generated Nanotechnologies for waste water treatment processes (e.g. filters )

24 NIA is looking for nano images!!! Submission is open until 11 October. Winners will be announced on 1 November!!

25 Thank you! Dr David Carlander Director of Advocacy Nanotechnology Fast%N%Loud%Season%4%Episode%2%Chopped% Industries Association m: e: w: Brussels Nanotechnology Industries Association (aisbl) Avenue Louise 1050 Brussels Belgium London Nanotechnology Industries Association (ltd) Lion House Red Lion Street London, WC1R 4GB United

26 Selected references BIO Intelligence Service (2011), Study on coherence of waste legislation, Final report prepared for the European Commission (DG ENV) 2012 Munich Workshop Safe Management of Nanowaste OECD Scoping Paper on Nanowaste (ENV/EPOC/ WPRPW(2011)4)