The increasing use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in consumer products has created concern about their fate and effect in the environment. Cosmetics and textiles may release ENMs during their life cycle, which can make their way into waterways often via discharge from wastewater treatment plants. This project assessed the toxicity of nano titanium dioxide and fullernes to green algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata in the presence or organic matter, including treated wastewater effluent and humic acid.

Honours Thesis completed by Elissa O’Malley in October 2013.

The proposed project will evaluate new methods for synthesising novel fluorescent biopolymer nanoparticles (BNPs) in quantities that are suitable to facilitate challenge testing at full-scale and investigate techniques for stabilising the BPNs for distribution. The prepared BNPs will then be used to demonstrate a full-scale challenge test at a South East Water membrane treatment plant. The BNP test will be performed at the same time as a scheduled MS2 bacteriophage challenge test or pressure-based test in order to compare the two methods.