Nanomaterials and the Environment - June 13-14, 2013, Moscow

The symposium will be organized by Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow State University and International Science and Technology Center (ISTC). The Registration and the Symposium will take place at the Chemistry Department of Moscow State University on June 13-14, 2013. We cordially invite you to participate in the Symposium with a Keynote, Oral or Poster (Ph.D. students) presentation.

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About the symposium:
The production, use and disposal of nanomaterials will lead to their release to the environment. Wastewater treatment streams and landfill leachate containing nanomaterials are means through which their modified forms will end up in the environment. In addition, some nanomaterials can be used in environmental remediation applications, therefore directly ending up in soils, sediments and water bodies. The toxicity metrics of available and emerging nanomaterials is of utmost importance.

The overall behavior of nanoparticles in the environment most likely depends not only on the physical and chemical character of the nanomaterial, but also on the characteristics of the receiving environment. It is generally accepted that small particles tend to aggregate or agglomerate to eventually become associated with other dissolved, colloidal and particulate matter present in the environment. Upon entry into the environment, nanoparticles may remain intact or undergo one or more of the following: dissolution; speciation (i.e. association with other ionic or molecular dissolved chemical substances); biological or chemical transformation to other chemicals, and/or complete mineralization (to carbon dioxide and water); agglomeration/disagglomeration and settling.

In order to accurately assess the effects of nanomaterials in the environment, exposure concentrations should be considered. All the forms, in which the nanomaterial occurs, which means all physical and chemical species, have to be addressed and evaluated. It is important to realize that there may be some ‘hot spots’ where nanomaterials might concentrate due to their tendency to aggregate/agglomerate and potentially to adsorb to or associate with organic matter. Furthermore, it is likely that some of the nanomaterials going through the waste treatment stream will end up associated with the solid phase that could potentially be deposited in certain environmental compartments where they might reach higher loads.

Therefore, accurate assessment of environmental concentrations of nanomaterials requires detailed insight into the processes that act on these materials in the environment. Unfortunately, currently available knowledge of these processes is insufficient to allow quantitative predictions of the environmental fate of nanomaterials.


The symposium will be focused on three important topics

1. the preparation, characterization and application of nanomaterials
   for remediation of water, soil and air
2. nanotoxicity and principles of design of less harmful nanoparticles,
   including modeling studies for both aspects
3. fate and transport of nanomaterials in the environment

Plenary lectures:

1. S. Al-Abed, EPA, USA
2. L. Kustov, IOC, Russia
3. I. Perminova, MSU, Russia
4. I. Tetko, Munich University, Germany
5. V. Prokopenko, Ukraine
6. W. Pejnenburg, Leiden University, Netherlands

Keynote lectures: to be announced
Oral papers: to be announced
Poster papers: PhD students contributions
Number of participants: 30-40

Organizing committee
Chairpersons: Prof. Leonid Kustov, Russia; Dr. Souhail Al-Abed, USA
Secretary: N. Golovina
Board Members: M. Ananyan, I. Perminova, G. Lisichkin, O. Kirichenko, E. Shuvalova
Conference fee: 150 USD or 4500 RUR

Important dates:

• Until June 1, 2013 – Registration
• June 1, 2013 –Submission of Abstracts
• June 13, 2013 – Registration fee (to be paid on site)
• June 13, 2013 – Opening of the Symposium

Proceedings of the Symposium will include the Scientific Program and Abstracts of papers (1 page, including figures and tables, line spacing - 1, Times New Roman 12, all margins 20 mm). Abstracts and confirmation of the participation should be sent to LMK@ioc.ac.ru.

Accomodation
Organizing committee does not book the hotel or provide accommodation.