GREEN NANOTECHNOLOGY

Nanotechnology has been defined as the understanding and control of matter at dimensions of roughly 1 - 100 nanometers. Nanotechnology is still in its infancy but some of its potential health and safety hazards have been with us for a long time since extremely small particles can pose threats to health and the environment. Due to widespread use in consumer products it is expected that nanomaterials will find their way into aquatic, terrestrial and atmosphere en¬vironments. The chemical and physical methods for production of nanomaterials are expensive, labor-intensive, and potentially hazardous to the environment. There is an urgent need to develop environmentally friendly methods of synthesis of nanoparticles through techniques that are not only safe for the environment but cost effective as well. Green nanotechnology aims to not only contribute nanoproducts that provide solutions to environmental challenges, but also to produce nanomaterials without deteriorating the environment or human health.