The researchers of the CEREGE (“Centre européen de recherche et d’enseignement des géosciences de l’environnement”) try, through metallic iron nanoparticles, to clean up contaminated sites. This clean-up is based on the oxidation-reduction phenomenon. As an example, a polluting such as Cr6+, highly oxidized and toxic, reduced in Cr3+ is less toxic. In order to treat larger areas, the nanoparticles are protect by organic molecules in surface (for example with cellulose) to slow down their oxidation.
Subterranean waters
How to implement safe decontamination?
The works on the decontamination of aquifer zones contaminated by nanoparticles provide data on their persistence and the relative efficiency of decontamination. However, this type of practice would lead to an exposure for humans if water was extracted for human consumption from these aquifers.