Application of hydrodynamic chromatography-ICP-MS to investigate the fate of silver nanoparticles in activated sludge

TY - JOUR

T1 - Application of hydrodynamic chromatography-ICP-MS to investigate the fate of silver nanoparticles in activated sludge

AU - Tiede, Karen

AU - Boxall, Alistair B. A.

AU - Wang, Xinmei

AU - Gore, David

AU - Tiede, Dirk

AU - Baxter, Malcolm

AU - David, Helen

AU - Tear, Steven P.

AU - Lewis, John

PY - 2010/7

Y1 - 2010/7

N2 - Detection and characterisation are two of the major challenges in understanding the fate, behaviour and occurrence of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in the natural environment. In a previous paper we described the development of hydrodynamic chromatography coupled to plasma mass spectrometry (HDC-ICP-MS) for detecting and characterising ENPs in aqueous matrices. This paper describes the applicability of the approach, to study the behaviour of silver nanoparticles in a much more complex and relevant environmental system i.e. sewage sludge supernatant. Batch sorption studies were performed at a range of nanosilver concentrations. Following completion, the sludge supernatant was characterised by ICP-MS, HDC-ICP-MS and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that, after a contact time of 6 h, most of the silver had partitioned to the sewage sludge (>90%). However, of the silver remaining in the supernatant, some of this was in the nanoparticle form, implying that closer consideration should be given to the longer-term impact of the release of silver ENPs into aquatic ecosystems. These preliminary data clearly show the utility of HDC-ICP-MS for studying the occurrence and behaviour of ENPs in complex natural environments.

AB - Detection and characterisation are two of the major challenges in understanding the fate, behaviour and occurrence of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in the natural environment. In a previous paper we described the development of hydrodynamic chromatography coupled to plasma mass spectrometry (HDC-ICP-MS) for detecting and characterising ENPs in aqueous matrices. This paper describes the applicability of the approach, to study the behaviour of silver nanoparticles in a much more complex and relevant environmental system i.e. sewage sludge supernatant. Batch sorption studies were performed at a range of nanosilver concentrations. Following completion, the sludge supernatant was characterised by ICP-MS, HDC-ICP-MS and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that, after a contact time of 6 h, most of the silver had partitioned to the sewage sludge (>90%). However, of the silver remaining in the supernatant, some of this was in the nanoparticle form, implying that closer consideration should be given to the longer-term impact of the release of silver ENPs into aquatic ecosystems. These preliminary data clearly show the utility of HDC-ICP-MS for studying the occurrence and behaviour of ENPs in complex natural environments.

KW - ENGINEERED NANOPARTICLES

KW - ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY

KW - ESCHERICHIA-COLI

KW - TOXICITY

KW - RISK

KW - ENVIRONMENT

KW - WATER

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77953822054&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1039/b926029c

DO - 10.1039/b926029c

M3 - Article

SN - 0267-9477

VL - 25

SP - 1149

EP - 1154

JO - JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY

JF - JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY

IS - 7

ER -