Diffusion of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through an HDPE geomembrane

Published

January 4, 2017

Author(s)

Pooneh Taghizadeh-Saheli, R. K. Rowe, Elijah Petersen, Denis O'Carroll

Abstract

The new applications for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in various fields and consequently the increase in their production volume have increased their potential release to the environment. Landfills are one of the major locations where carbon nanotubes are expected to be disposed in, and it is therefore important to assure that they can limit the release of CNTs. Diffusion of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) dispersed in an aqueous media through a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane (as a part of the landfill barrier system) is examined by performing laboratory experiments. The permeation coefficient is estimated to be less than 5.6×10-15 m2/s. The potential performance of HDPE geomembrane and GCL as a part of a composite liner in containing MWCNTs is modelled for six different scenarios. The results suggest that the low value of permeation coefficient of an HDPE geomembrane will be an effective diffusive barrier for MWCNTs and by keeping the geomembrane defects minimum during the construction (e.g., number of holes and length of wrinkles) the composite liner will contain MWCNTs effectively.

Citation

Science of the Total Environment

Pub Type

Journals

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Citation

Taghizadeh-Saheli, P. , Rowe, R. , Petersen, E. and O'Carroll, D. (2017), Diffusion of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) through an HDPE geomembrane, Science of the Total Environment, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=919990 (Accessed October 17, 2025)