Formation and properties of nanoparticles and their environmental impact

Nanodelci so drobni skupki materiala, ki jih s prostim očesom ne vidimo. To so delci, veliki od 1 nanometra do 100 nanometrov. Glede na njihov nastanek jih lahko ločimo na naravne in inženirsko proizvedene. Zelo znana primera nanodelcev sta buckminster fuleren in ogljikove nanocevke. Njihova glavna značilnost v primerjavi z drugimi delci je veliko večje razmerje med prostornino in površino. Velikost, oblika, značaj, reaktivnost, stabilnost, naboj pa so lastnosti nanodelcev, ki v veliki meri vplivajo na njihovo toksičnost. Posledica vse več inženirsko proizvedenih nanodelcev ter tudi naravno nastalih nanodelcev je njihov težko nadzorovan vpliv na okolje. V diplomski nalogi sem predstavil njihov nastanek in klasifikacijo. Nato pa sem z lastnostmi, zaradi katerih so delci toksični, opredelil njihov vpliv na okolje. Opisal sem njihovo obnašanje v vodnem okolju, okolju tal in tudi interakcijo nanodelcev z rastlinami. Na koncu pa sem predstavil metode, s katerimi jih poiščemo ter zaznamo njihovo prisotnost in koncentracijo. Na podlagi dobljenih podatkov se izvajajo nadaljnji ukrepi za zmanjšanje njihove koncentracije na dovoljeno mejno vrednost. Trenutni tehnološki razvoj povečuje potrebo po implementaciji nanodelcev v vsakdanje izdelke, kar povzroča vse težji nadzor in kontrolo nad njimi, prav tako pa povečuje onesnaževanje in vpliv na okolje in življenje v njem.Nanoparticles are tiny clumps of material that are not visible to the naked eye. They represent particles ranging in size form 1 nanometer to 100 nanometers. Depending on their origin, they can be separated into natural and engineered nanoparticles. Very well-known examples of nanoparticles are buckminster fullerene and carbon nanotubes. Their main feature compared to other particles is the much larger volume-to-surface ratio. Size, shape, character, reactivity, stability and charge are properties of nanoparticles that greatly affect their toxicity. Increase in engineered nanoparticles, as well as naturally occuring nanoparticles, have a hard-to-control effect on environment. In my thesis I presented their origin and classification. Then, through the properties that make the particles toxic, I defined their environmental impact. I have described their behaviour in the aquatic environment, soil environment, and also the interaction of nanoparticles with plants. Finally, I outlined the methods by which we find them and detect their presence and concentration. On the basis of the data obtained, further measures need to be taken to reduce their concentration to the limit value. Current technological developments increase the need for the implementation of nanoparticles into everyday products, leading to increasingly diffucult control over them, as well as increasing pollution and impact on the environment and life in it