Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nanotechnology in Environmental Remediation of a Highly Metal-Contaminated Area—Minas Gerais, Brazil

A column experiment at a laboratory level was carried out to assess the effect of application nanotechnology in decontamination soils and alluvial deposits with high levels potentially toxic elements (PTEs). suspension zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) injected three different concentrations selected samples (two sediments, one soil). For most elements, retention by nZVI proportional concentration trend similar. Metals were immobilized adsorption on surface layer and/or complexation, co-precipitation, chemical reduction. By day 60 following injection, lost reactivity retained species desorbed back into soluble phase. The definition spatial patterns for PTEs’ distribution allowed construction contamination risk maps using geostatistical simulation approach. analysis obtained from extractable contents five target (Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, As) cross-checked estimated map network their efficiency. Data these phase porewater sediments/soils, indicate injection as suitable technique reducing PTEs contaminated Fe-rich tropical environments.