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Fate and Transport of Silver Nanoparticles and Related Products in Saturated Porous Media
Citation:
Kanel, S. R., J. Flory, L. Racz, C. IMPELLITTERI, M. NADAGOUDA, C. L. PATTERSON, R. G. Silva, J. HUANG, AND M. N. Goltz. Fate and Transport of Silver Nanoparticles and Related Products in Saturated Porous Media. Presented at ACS Spring Conference 2012, San Diego, CA, March 25 - 29, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Nanosilver is the largest and fastest growing category of nanomaterials. A growing number of studies show that nanosilver may pose significant adverse human and environmental effects. Given the ubiquity of nanosilver and its potential toxicity, it is incumbent upon us to understand its environmental fate and transport. This study looked at how nanosilver and related products are transported in saturated porous media. In the study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are synthesized using the sodium borohydride reduction method. Column experiments were then conducted, to study the transport of AgNPs, along with related products (e.g., Ag ions and silver oxide), in saturated porous media. In the study, a conservative tracer, AgNPs, Ag ions, and silver oxide were injected into the inlet of a glass bead packed column, and concentration versus time breakthrough curves obtained at the column outlet. Breakthrough curves were compared and filtration theory used to analyze the results. Preliminary results show that the total mass of AgNPs leaving the column was smaller than the total input mass, indicating the capture of a fraction of the colloidal AgNPs by the porous media.