Organophosphates are strong chelator compounds of multivalent cations and therefore are used in desalination and other high salt concentration environments to control and minimize calcium scale formation.  However, when calcium scale does form in the presence of an organophosphate, particle size is dramatically affected. We use this control of particle formation in our research on nanoparticle synthesis, where organophosphate ligands can be used to produce highly disordered iron nanoparticles. After synthesis, a portion of the ligand remains on the nanoparticle surface and has a significant impact on the particle reactivity in aqueous environments.  In this talk, I will discuss my research with these organophosphate compounds over the past 10 years, from understanding how calcium carbonate particle formation changes in the presence of these ligands, to the development of phosphonate-stabilized iron nanoparticles, and our work to understand how a series of organophosphate ligands can be used to control iron nanoparticle stability and reactivity in water.<br/>

Utilizing organophosphates to control particle properties: From antiscalants in desalination to iron-mediated persulfate oxidation

255th National Meeting (2018)

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