scholarly journals Heteroagglomeration of nanosilver with colloidal SiO2 and clay

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Maillette ◽  
Caroline Peyrot ◽  
Tapas Purkait ◽  
Muhammad Iqbal ◽  
Jonathan G. C. Veinot ◽  
...  

Environmental contextThe fate of nanomaterials in the environment is related to their colloidal stability. Although numerous studies have examined their homoagglomeration, their low concentration and the presence of high concentrations of natural particles implies that heteroagglomeration rather than homoagglomeration is likely to occur under natural conditions. In this paper, two state-of-the art analytical techniques were used to identify the conditions under which nanosilver was most likely to form heteroagglomerates in natural waters. AbstractThe environmental risk of nanomaterials will depend on their persistence, mobility, toxicity and bioaccumulation. Each of these parameters is related to their fate (especially dissolution, agglomeration). The goal of this paper was to understand the heteroagglomeration of silver nanoparticles in natural waters. Two small silver nanoparticles (nAg, ~3nm; polyacrylic acid- and citrate-stabilised) were covalently labelled with a fluorescent dye and then mixed with colloidal silicon oxides (SiO2, ~18.5nm) or clays (~550nm SWy-2 montmorillonite). Homo- and heteroagglomeration of the nAg were first studied in controlled synthetic waters that were representative of natural fresh waters (50μg Ag L–1; pH 7.0; ionic strength 10–7 to 10–1 M Ca) by following the sizes of the nAg by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. The polyacrylic acid-coated nanosilver was extremely stable under all conditions, including in the presence of other colloids and at high ionic strengths. However, the citrate-coated nanosilver formed heteroaggregates in presence of both colloidal SiO2 and clay particles. Nanoparticle surface properties appeared to play a key role in controlling the physicochemical stability of the nAg. For example, the polyacrylic acid stabilized nAg-remained extremely stable in the water column, even under conditions for which surrounding colloidal particles were agglomerating. Finally, enhanced dark-field microscopy was then used to further characterise the heteroagglomeration of a citrate-coated nAg with suspensions of colloidal clay, colloidal SiO2 or natural (river) water.

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay M. Furtado ◽  
Md Ehsanul Hoque ◽  
Denise M. Mitrano ◽  
James F. Ranville ◽  
Beth Cheever ◽  
...  

Environmental context Silver nanoparticles discharged with municipal wastewater may contaminate surface waters and harm aquatic ecosystems. We applied several analytical techniques to investigate the persistence and transformation of silver nanoparticles in a natural lake environment, and show, through multiple lines of evidence, that they persisted in lake water for several weeks after addition. The nanoparticles were releasing silver ions through dissolution, but these toxic ions were likely binding with natural organic matter in the lake water. Abstract Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) may be released into surface waters, where they can affect aquatic organisms. However, agglomeration, dissolution, surface modifications and chemical speciation are important processes that control the toxicity of AgNPs. The purpose of the study was to apply various methods for monitoring the persistence and transformation of AgNPs added to littoral lake mesocosms. Analysis of total Ag showed that the levels in the mesocosms declined rapidly in the first 12h after addition, followed by a slower rate of dissipation with a half-life (t1/2) of ~20 days. Analysis using single particle ICP-MS (spICP-MS) showed no evidence of extensive homo-agglomeration of AgNPs. The stability of AgNPs was likely due to the low ionic strength and high concentrations of humic-rich dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the lake water. Analyses by spICP-MS, cloud point extraction (CPE) and asymmetric flow field flow fractionation coupled to ICP-MS (AF4-ICP-MS) all indicated that the concentrations of AgNP decreased over time, and the nanoparticles underwent dissolution. However, the concentrations of dissolved silver, which includes Ag+, were generally below detection limits when analysed by centrifugal ultrafiltration and spICP-MS. It is likely that the majority of free ions released by dissolution were complexing with natural organic material, such as DOC. An association with DOC would be expected to reduce the toxicity of Ag+ in natural waters. Overall, we were able to characterise AgNP transformations in natural waters at toxicologically relevant concentrations through the use of multiple analytical techniques that compensate for the limitations of the individual methods.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Jabłońska ◽  
Krzysztof Jankowski ◽  
Mikołaj Tomasik ◽  
Dariusz Cykalewicz ◽  
Paweł Uznański ◽  
...  

AbstractThe article presents for the first time the synthesis of silver nanoparticles in an electric arc of high-voltage alternating current with a frequency of 50 Hz. In particular, the method and apparatus necessary for the preparation of nanoparticles in water solution is discussed. Current–voltage characteristics depending on the mutual distance between the electrodes are presented which show a very high stability of the generated discharge phenomena. The obtained nanoparticles were examined using various analytical techniques such as UV–Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, energy dispersive X-Ray analysis (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). The morphology, surface and size of the obtained nanoparticles was carried out using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning TEM (STEM) equipped with the annual dark-field imaging scanning atomic-scale chemical mapping (STEM). The designed simple power supply unit consisting of an autotransformer and a microwave oven transformer (MOT) makes the preparation of silver nanoparticles both simple and economical.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1768
Author(s):  
Miroslav Rievaj ◽  
Eva Culková ◽  
Damiána Šandorová ◽  
Zuzana Lukáčová-Chomisteková ◽  
Renata Bellová ◽  
...  

This short review deals with the properties and significance of the determination of selenium, which is in trace amounts an essential element for animals and humans, but toxic at high concentrations. It may cause oxidative stress in cells, which leads to the chronic disease called selenosis. Several analytical techniques have been developed for its detection, but electroanalytical methods are advantageous due to simple sample preparation, speed of analysis and high sensitivity of measurements, especially in the case of stripping voltammetry very low detection limits even in picomoles per liter can be reached. A variety of working electrodes based on mercury, carbon, silver, platinum and gold materials were applied to the analysis of selenium in various samples. Only selenium in oxidation state + IV is electroactive therefore the most of voltammetric determinations are devoted to it. However, it is possible to detect also other forms of selenium by indirect electrochemistry approach.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon R. Hawkings ◽  
Benjamin S. Linhoff ◽  
Jemma L. Wadham ◽  
Marek Stibal ◽  
Carl H. Lamborg ◽  
...  

AbstractThe Greenland Ice Sheet is currently not accounted for in Arctic mercury budgets, despite large and increasing annual runoff to the ocean and the socio-economic concerns of high mercury levels in Arctic organisms. Here we present concentrations of mercury in meltwaters from three glacial catchments on the southwestern margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet and evaluate the export of mercury to downstream fjords based on samples collected during summer ablation seasons. We show that concentrations of dissolved mercury are among the highest recorded in natural waters and mercury yields from these glacial catchments (521–3,300 mmol km−2 year−1) are two orders of magnitude higher than from Arctic rivers (4–20 mmol km−2 year−1). Fluxes of dissolved mercury from the southwestern region of Greenland are estimated to be globally significant (15.4–212 kmol year−1), accounting for about 10% of the estimated global riverine flux, and include export of bioaccumulating methylmercury (0.31–1.97 kmol year−1). High dissolved mercury concentrations (~20 pM inorganic mercury and ~2 pM methylmercury) were found to persist across salinity gradients of fjords. Mean particulate mercury concentrations were among the highest recorded in the literature (~51,000 pM), and dissolved mercury concentrations in runoff exceed reported surface snow and ice values. These results suggest a geological source of mercury at the ice sheet bed. The high concentrations of mercury and its large export to the downstream fjords have important implications for Arctic ecosystems, highlighting an urgent need to better understand mercury dynamics in ice sheet runoff under global warming.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-110
Author(s):  
Princy Philip ◽  
Tomlal Jose ◽  
Sarath KS ◽  
Sunny Kuriakose

Silver nanoparticles with 5–10 nm diameters are synthesised using Couroupita guianensis flower extract. The synthesised silver nanoparticles found to show good antimicrobial activity against gram negative and gram positive bacteria. Poly(methyl methacrylate) nanofibers with pristine, surface roughened and coaxial hollow forms are prepared by electrospinning. The structural and morphological properties of these pure and structurally modified poly(methyl methacrylate) nanofibers are evidenced by various analytical techniques. The antimicrobial studies of poly(methyl methacrylate) nanofibers having different architectures incorporated with silver nanoparticles are carried out. It is found that, all the three forms of poly(methyl methacrylate) nanofibers incorporated with silver nanoparticles show antibacterial properties against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Among these, surface roughened poly(methyl methacrylate) nanofibers incorporated with silver nanoparticles show highest antibacterial activity than the other two structural forms. The present study offers an alternative to the existing optical lenses. People especially those who suffer from eye problems can protect their eyes in a better way from infectious agents by wearing optical lens made from C. guianensis stabilised silver nanoparticles incorporated poly(methyl methacrylate) nanofibers than that made from pure poly(methyl methacrylate) nanofibers or films.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2305
Author(s):  
Melusi Thwala ◽  
Stephen Klaine ◽  
Ndeke Musee

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are favoured antibacterial agents in nano-enabled products and can be released into water resources where they potentially elicit adverse effects. Herein, interactions of 10 and 40 nm AgNPs (10-AgNPs and 40-AgNPs) with aquatic higher plant Salvinia minima at 600 µg/L in moderately hard water (MHW), MHW of raised calcium (Ca2+), and MHW containing natural organic matter (NOM) were examined. The exposure media variants altered the AgNPs’ surface properties, causing size-dependent agglomeration. The bio-accessibility in the ascending order was: NOM < MHW < Ca2+, was higher in plants exposed to 10-AgNPs, and across all exposures, accumulation was higher in roots compared to fronds. The AgNPs reduced plant growth and the production of chlorophyll pigments a and b; the toxic effects were influenced by exposure media chemistry, and the smaller 10-AgNPs were commonly the most toxic relative to 40-AgNPs. The toxicity pattern was linked to the averagely higher dissolution of 10-AgNPs compared to the larger counterparts. The scanning electron microscopy and X-ray fluorescence analytical techniques were found limited in examining the interaction of the plants with AgNPs at the low exposure concentration used in this study, thus challenging their applicability considering the even lower predicted environmental concentrations AgNPs.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 4585
Author(s):  
Nicole Jara ◽  
Nataly S. Milán ◽  
Ashiqur Rahman ◽  
Lynda Mouheb ◽  
Daria C. Boffito ◽  
...  

Nanomaterials have supported important technological advances due to their unique properties and their applicability in various fields, such as biomedicine, catalysis, environment, energy, and electronics. This has triggered a tremendous increase in their demand. In turn, materials scientists have sought facile methods to produce nanomaterials of desired features, i.e., morphology, composition, colloidal stability, and surface chemistry, as these determine the targeted application. The advent of photoprocesses has enabled the easy, fast, scalable, and cost- and energy-effective production of metallic nanoparticles of controlled properties without the use of harmful reagents or sophisticated equipment. Herein, we overview the synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles via photochemical routes. We extensively discuss the effect of varying the experimental parameters, such as the pH, exposure time, and source of irradiation, the use or not of reductants and surfactants, reagents’ nature and concentration, on the outcomes of these noble nanoparticles, namely, their size, shape, and colloidal stability. The hypothetical mechanisms that govern these green processes are discussed whenever available. Finally, we mention their applications and insights for future developments.


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