Nanomaterials affect human and environmental health through applications, such as waste-containing nanomaterials (WCNMs) generation, product use, treatment and disposal. As the number of applications increases, more and more nanomaterial waste will be generated. The increased use of nanomaterials introduces nanoparticles intentionally or unintentionally into waste streams. This study examined WCNMs in a domestic industrial area and selected silicon dioxide as an objective nanomaterial because it is ranked first in circulation and quantity of use. We analyzed leaching and concentration of heavy metals in nano-waste. Chemical composition was determined using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and the unique properties of nano-waste were examined using particle size distribution analyzer and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results of the leaching test showed lower or undetectable concentrations than those of standard hazardous substances in Korea. However, some samples had higher concentrations than criteria of hazardous chemicals in contaminated soil. The XRF results revealed that silicon dioxide was the major component with a known particle size < 100 nm in liquid waste samples.

• 김우일(국립환경과학원 자원순환연구과) | Woo-Il Kim (Resource Recirculation Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research) Corresponding author
• 조나현(국립환경과학원 자원순환연구과) | Na-Hyeon Cho (Resource Recirculation Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research)
• 최효현(국립환경과학원 자원순환연구과) | Hyo-Hyun Choi (Resource Recirculation Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research)