ePubs

The open archive for STFC research publications

Full Record Details

Persistent URL http://purl.org/net/epubs/work/51668
Record Status Checked
Record Id 51668
Title Fate of silica nanoparticles in simulated primary wastewater treatment
Contributors
Abstract Through novel application of small-angle neutron scattering, we examined the fate of silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) during simulated primary wastewater treatment, by measuring, in real time, the colloidal behavior of SiO2NPs in wastewater (sewage). We examined the effects of surface functionality on SiO2NP fate in wastewater, by comparing both unfunctionalized (uncoated or ?bare?) SiO2NPsand SiO2NPsfunctionalized with a thin coating of a nonionic surfactant (Tween 20), which is widely used in personal care and household product formulations containing engineered oxide nanoparticles. Our results show new evidence that the surface functionality of SiO2NPs plays a crucial role in their flocculation and sedimentation behavior in wastewater, and thus the likely efficacy of their removal from the effluent stream during primary wastewater treatment. Uncoated SiO2NPs did not flocculate in wastewater over typical residence times for primary treatment. Conversely, surface-functionalized (Tween-coated) SiO2NPs underwent rapid flocculation in wastewater. Our results show that the surface-functionalized SiO2NPs are likely to be removed by sedimentation to sewage sludge (typically recycled to land), whereas uncoated SiO2NPs will continue through the effluent stream. While nanoparticle design is driven by use purpose, this study shows new potential for exploiting surface functionalization of nanoparticles to modify their environmental pathways.
Organisation ISIS , ISIS-LOQ , STFC
Keywords Chemistry , Natural environment , SANS , Nanoparticles , Neutrons , Sewage
Funding Information
Related Research Object(s):
Licence Information:
Language English (EN)
Type Details URI(s) Local file(s) Year
Journal Article Environ Sci Technol 43, no. 22 (2009): 8622-8628. doi:10.1021/es901399q es901399q_si_001[1].pdf
es901399q_est_news.pdf
ISIS_Science_Web_Highlight.pdf
STFC_News_Release.pdf
Planet_Earth_News_Item.pdf
Physics_World_News_Item.pdf
Cosmetics_Design_News_Item.pdf
NERC_News_item.pdf
es901399q.pdf		 2009