Synthesis and characterization of nanostructures based on zinc oxide and hydroxyapatite for fertilizer applications and evaluation of aspects of nanotoxicity.

• Grant number: 13/17528-8
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Daniel Souza Corrêa
• Grantee: Flávia Fontes Pereira Lopes
• Home Institution: Embrapa Instrumentação Agropecuária. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The increasing advance of nanotechnology has enabled the development of materials with optimized properties, including the production of nanostructured fertilizers as a more efficient alternative to replace conventional fertilizer aiming at increasing agribusiness production, including food and supplies. The use of these nanofertilizers also raise concerns about side effects caused by nanomaterials in the environment, which can impact aquatic biota and consequently the human health. Changes in the size and shape of the nanoparticles modify the way they interact with the environment, as well as inappropriate disposal and indiscriminate use of nanofertilizers can cause potential increase in the level of toxicity, especially for water resources, due to their greater vulnerability to environment contamination. In this context, the present study aims at synthesize and characterize, by several physic-chemical techniques, nanofertilizers based on zinc oxide (ZnO) and hydroxyapatite Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 (HAP), and evaluate nanotoxicity of these materials for the specie of microalgae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, since microalgae form the base of the aquatic trophic chain. The synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles and HAP will be carried out by hidrothermalization and coprecipitation methods in order to control the formation of phases and the particle size. Subsequently we will use microscopy scanning electron (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential and isotherms adsorption / desorption of N2 for structural and morphological characterization. Bioassays chronic toxicity to microalgae will be carried out to evaluate the inhibition of growth and morphological changes when exposed to nanoparticles.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PEREIRA, FLAVIA F.; PARIS, ELAINE C.; BRESOLIN, JOANA D.; MITSUYUKI, MILENE C.; FERREIRA, MARCOS D.; CORREA, DANIEL S. The Effect of ZnO Nanoparticles Morphology on the Toxicity Towards Microalgae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, v. 20, n. 1, p. 48-63, JAN 2020. Web of Science Citations: 1.

PEREIRA, FLAVIA F.; PARIS, ELAINE C.; BRESOLIN, JOANA D.; FOSCHINI, MILENE M.; FERREIRA, MARCOS D.; CORREA, DANIEL S. Investigation of nanotoxicological effects of nanostructured hydroxyapatite to microalgae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY, v. 144, p. 138-147, OCT 2017. Web of Science Citations: 1.