Fractionation and preconcentration of silver nanoparticles at environmentally relevant concentrations through induced eco-corona formation and spICP-MS characterization

Author(s)

de Andrade, Aline Martins ; de Barros, Anerise ; Mazali, Italo Odone ; Arruda, Marco Aurelio Zezzi

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO; v. 11, n. 4, p. 12-pg., 2024-02-02.

Abstract

The increasing application of nanoparticles (NPs) to different products by the industry has raised concerns regarding their release into environmental matrices. Single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) is a growing technique based on counting particle events that allow the characterisation and quantification of NPs at environmental concentrations. However, a number concentration (N-NP) of 10(4)-10(5) NPs per mL in the suspension is required. Considering 10 ng L-1 for 80 nm AgNPs, a N-NP of similar to 3500 NPs per mL is expected; thus, a preconcentration step can be an alternative to increase the N-NP. Eco-corona formation with humic acid (HA) and NPs is a well-known environmental process. This work used an induced eco-corona formation to fractionate and preconcentrate NPs in environmental waters. For ultrapure water, 7 times more NPs were detected in the spICP-MS analysis, representing a N-NP of similar to 2.9 x 10(4) NPs per mL, with a concentration factor (CF) similar to 9 times that for both N-NP and mass concentration (similar to 80 ng L-1). Additionally, the size of the AgNPs was maintained after the method without compromising NP characterisation. The method's feasibility was also tested in drinking water, tap water, and river water, and a CF between 7 and 8 times that for N-NP and mass concentration was obtained, demonstrating its applicability despite the matrix composition and pH. The induced eco-corona method can be used to track NPs in environmental waters at concentrations <10 ng L-1; besides the main objective of preconcentrating NPs, making the samples suitable for analysis by spICP-MS was achieved, allowing the NPs' proper size distribution characterization according to spICP-MS theory. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/24445-8 - EMU granted in process 2018/25207-0: inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer
• Grantee: Marco Aurelio Zezzi Arruda
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• FAPESP's process: 18/25207-0 - Nanometallomics applied to soybean cultivation for studying the effects of metal-related nanoparticles
• Grantee: Marco Aurelio Zezzi Arruda
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/02893-1 - Eco-friendly methods of metallic nanoparticles synthesis for application in evaluating soybean plants growth in the presence of the nanoparticles
• Grantee: Anerise de Barros
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 14/50867-3 - INCT 2014: National Institute of Science and Technology in Bioanalysis
• Grantee: Marco Aurelio Zezzi Arruda
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/08543-7 - A speciomic toolkit to investigate fatty acid-mediated changes in plasma zinc speciation and their physiological effects
• Grantee: Marco Aurelio Zezzi Arruda
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants