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Role of water chemistry on stability, aggregation, and dissolution of uncoated and carbon-coated copper nanoparticles
Citation:
Tegenaw, A., G. Sorial, E. Sahle-Demessie, AND C. Han. Role of water chemistry on stability, aggregation, and dissolution of uncoated and carbon-coated copper nanoparticles. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH. Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands, 187:109700, (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109700
Impact/Purpose:
This manuscript presents data and analysis for the fate of nano-copper particles that are used as pesticides. The environmental stability of both uncoated and carbon-coated Cu-NPs is dependent on the type and concentration of dispersant, water chemistry, exposure time, and the presence of humic acids. Water chemistry and the presence of humic acids had minimum impact on the stability of both uncoated and carbon-coated Cu-NPs. The application and release of uncoated and carbon-coated Cu-NPs at pH ≤ 7 could increase the dissolved Cu amount and the subsequent environmental bioavailability and mobility to adversely affect the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystems The findings in this study provide information about the potential mobility and bioavailability of uncoated and carbon-coated Cu-NPs at a range of water chemistry.
Description:
Intentional or accidental release of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) from consumer products during manufacturing, use, and end-of-life management could pose health and ecological risks. This paper presents a detailed study on the role of water chemistry on the fate of uncoated and carbon-coated Cu-NPs dispersed in aqueous cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant in the presence and absence of humic acids (HAs). A range of water chemistry and HAs had minimum impact on hydrodynamic diameter and zeta-potential values of uncoated and carbon-coated Cu-NPs. The water pH significantly (p < 0.001) affected the aggregation of uncoated Cu-NPs unlike that of carbon-coated Cu-NPs; however, the presence of HAs increased the stability of uncoated Cu-NPs. Although CTAB is considered as an efficient dispersant to stabilize Cu-NPs, the effect descended with time for uncoated Cu-NPs. The dissolution of Cu over time decreased with increasing pH for both uncoated (0.5–50% weight) and carbon-coated (0.5–40% weight) Cu-NPs. However, carbon-coated Cu-NPs exhibited significant dissolution (p < 0.001) at neutral pH than uncoated Cu-NPs may be due to the additional carbon it acquired during coating.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Role of water chemistry on stability, aggregation, and dissolution of uncoated and carbon-coated copper nanoparticles
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