NANOBOND Project

Aim: The project aims to verify the ability of nanostructured material to adsorb organic and inorganic contaminants present in marine and river sediments, coupled with dehydration, using geotextile drainage membranes (geotube), in order to reduce the volumes of materials. This system will be experimented on a laboratory scale and on a pilot scale before being applied on a large scale, particularly in the port where the need to remove variable quantities of contaminated sediments has now become a top priority on national and international level.

ISPRA activities: ISPRA, Livorno Section, will carry out ecotoxicological analysis of environmental matrices (water and sediment) as well as nanomaterials and additives, through model marine organisms used in short and long term biological assays, for the evaluation of acute and chronic, lethal and sub lethal effects. ISPRA will also draw up guidelines for the eco-sustainability evaluation of nano-structured materials, which may support future developments in nanotechnology and bio-remediation materials.

Expected results: The development of eco-compatible and eco-sustainable nanoremediation processes, compared to those currently available, will enable the competitive growth of each participant in the

• production of nano-structured materials obtained also from renewable sources;
• treatment of sludge and sediments associated with dewatering,
• environmental safety of nano-structured materials and treated sediments

NANOBOND will then provide knowledge / products / nanoremediation materials necessary for immediate in situ application for sediment reclamation.