Trotz and Gupta are conducting nanoscale exploratory research in an effort to develop novel nanomaterials which are based on a smart polymer gel and nanometer sized photo catalyst with the goal of remediation of polluted water of such contaminates as chlorinated hydrocarbons and arsenic.

A nanometer (based on a nanometer scale) is a billionth of a meter. Nanomaterials are useful in research because it allows the exploitation of surface atoms which display unusual properties and can only occur at the nanometer scale.

Trotz, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of South Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from MIT. Later, she received her Masters and PhD, both in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University.

Other research interests of Trotz’s are of heavy metal fate in the subsurface environment and also involvement in multi-disciplinary projects which encourage sustainable development and provide affordable and efficient technologies to developing countries.

Gupta, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of South Florida. Gupta received his Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay, India. He completed his Masters and PhD, both in Chemical Engineering, from the California Institute of Technology. His research interests include interfacial science, polymeric materials and nanotechnology.

An obstacle associated with this research in the past has been the difficulty in removing the nanoparticles from the water. Trotz and Gupta hope to overcome this limitation with this research by incorporating and utilizing the smart polymer gel in the process.

The broad societal impact of Nanoscale Exploratory Research (NER) and specifically this project is relevant to industrial treatment of waste water and the decontamination of water systems.

This research is made possible through an (NER) grant issued by the National Science Foundation (NSF).