Journal article
Surface immobilization of engineered nanomaterials for in situ study of their environmental transformations and fate
Environmental Science and Technology, Vol.47(16), pp.9308-9316
2013
PMID: 23879534
Abstract
The transformation and environmental fate of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) is the focus of intense research due to concerns about their potential impacts in the environment as a result of their uniquely engineered properties. Many approaches are being applied to investigate the complex interactions and transformation processes ENMs may undergo in aqueous and terrestrial environments. However, major challenges remain due to the difficulties in detecting, separating, and analyzing ENMs from environmental matrices. In this work, a novel technique capable of in situ study of ENMs is presented. By exploiting the functional interactions between surface modified silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and plasma-deposited polymer films, AgNPs were immobilized on to solid supports that can be deployed in the field and retrieved for analysis. Either negatively charged citrate or polyethylene glycol, or positively charged polyethyleneimine were used to cap the AgNPs, which were deployed in two field sites (lake and marina), two standard ecotoxicity media, and in primary sewage sludge for a period of up to 48 h. The chemical and physical transformations of AgNPs after exposure to different environments were analyzed by a combination of XAS and SEM/EDX, taken directly from the substrates. Cystine- or glutathione-bound Ag were found to be the dominant forms of Ag in transformed ENMs, but different extents of transformation were observed across different exposure conditions and surface charges. These results successfully demonstrate the feasibility of using immobilized ENMs to examine their likely transformations in situ in real environments and provide further insight into the short-term fate of AgNPs in the environment. Both the advantages and the limitations of this approach are discussed.
Details
- Title
- Surface immobilization of engineered nanomaterials for in situ study of their environmental transformations and fate
- Authors
- Ryo Sekine (Author) - University of South AustraliaMaryam Khaksar (Author) - University of South AustraliaGianluca Brunetti (Author) - University of South AustraliaErica Donner (Author) - University of South AustraliaKirk G Scheckel (Author) - Environmental Protection AgencyEnzo Lombi (Author) - University of South AustraliaKrasimir Vasilev (Author) - University of South Australia
- Publication details
- Environmental Science and Technology, Vol.47(16), pp.9308-9316
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society
- Date published
- 2013
- DOI
- 10.1021/es400839h
- ISSN
- 0013-936X; 1520-5851; 0013-936X
- PMID
- 23879534
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2013 American Chemical Society. The author's accepted version is reproduced here in accordance with the publisher's copyright policy. The definitive version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es400839h
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99513773002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
80 File views/ downloads
35 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Engineering, Environmental
- Environmental Sciences
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites