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Separation and measurement of silver nanoparticles and silver ions using magnetic particles
Citation:
Mwilu, S., E. Siska, N. Baig, R. Varma, Ed Heithmar, AND K. Rogers. Separation and measurement of silver nanoparticles and silver ions using magnetic particles. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, 472:316-323, (2014).
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory’s (NERL’s) Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division (HEASD) conducts research in support of EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment. HEASD’s research program supports Goal 1 (Clean Air) and Goal 4 (Healthy People) of EPA’s strategic plan. More specifically, our division conducts research to characterize the movement of pollutants from the source to contact with humans. Our multidisciplinary research program produces Methods, Measurements, and Models to identify relationships between and characterize processes that link source emissions, environmental concentrations, human exposures, and target-tissue dose. The impact of these tools is improved regulatory programs and policies for EPA.
Description:
The recent surge in consumer products and applications using metallic nanoparticles has increased the possibility of human or ecosystem exposure due to unintentional release into the environment. To protect consumer health and the environment, there is an urgent need to develop tools that can characterize and quantify these materials at low concentrations and in complex matrices. In this study, magnetic nanoparticles coated with either dopamine or glutathione were used to develop a new, simple and reliable method for the separation/pre-concentration of trace amounts of silver nanoparticles followed by their quantification using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The structurally modified magnetic particles were able to capture trace amounts of silver nanoparticles (~ 2 ppb) and concentrate (up to 250 times) the particles for analysis with ICP-MS. Under laboratory conditions, recovery of silver nanoparticles was > 99%. More importantly, the magnetic particles selectively captured silver nanoparticles in a mixture containing both nano-particulate and ionic silver. This unique feature addresses the challenges of separation and quantification of silver nanoparticles in addition to the total silver in environmental samples. Spiking experiments showed recoveries higher than 97% for tap water and both fresh and saline surface water.
