Modeling the fate and transport of nanoparticles from combined sewer overflows in the Buffalo River

Session: Poster session

Angshuman M Saharia, University at Buffalo, [email protected]
ZHENDUO ZHU, University at Buffalo, SUNY, [email protected]
Joseph Atkinson, University of Buffalo, Dept. of Civil , Struct. & Env Eng., [email protected]

Abstract

Nanomaterials are increasingly used in agricultural and industrial applications as well as in consumer products and a variety of medical applications in the United States and Canada. Due to the accelerating production of these materials and probable release into the environment, various health and environmental issues are raised. The transport of nanoparticles is challenging due to different behaviour (e.g. homoaggregation, heteroaggregation to suspended matter, and sedimentation) compared to the conventional contaminates and chemicals. The aim of this study is to predict the fate and transport of nanoparticles introduced through combined sewer overflows in the Buffalo River system using the three-dimensional Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC). EFDC is an open-source code that has been widely used for rivers, lakes, and estuaries. A hydrodynamic and water quality modeling of the Buffalo River was developed to analyze where nanoparticles from combined sewer overflows may migrate and deposit in the river. Flow from the Buffalo River will flush nanomaterials into the Lake Erie, therefore this study is a significant step in furthering our understanding of the modelling of nanoparticles.