Characteristics and Significance of Natural Nanoparticles in the Groundwater of the Baotu Spring Area in Jinan, Shandong Province, Eastern China

Abstract

Karst groundwater is a crucial water source, but it has faced significant environmental risks in recent years. The complexity of the groundwater system necessitates innovative approaches to studying karst groundwater. This paper focuses on the karst groundwater of the Baotu Spring area in Jinan. Using the nanoparticle tracking analysis instrument, it is observed that the collected groundwater contains many natural nanoparticles, with particle sizes mainly ranging from 76.3 to 621.8 nm and concentrations primarily between 0.31 and 5.0 × 105 Particles/L. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) is used to study the characteristics of naturally occurring nanoparticles in the karst groundwater. The results show that the karst groundwater mainly contains particles of Ca, Na, Fe, Al, Si, and other elements, which exist in granular and irregular forms. The size of individual particles varies from 40 to 600 nm, and they are mostly amorphous and monocrystalline. The characteristics of the particles suggest that the direct recharge area mainly receives infiltration from atmospheric precipitation, with minimal influence from human activities and agriculture. In contrast, the indirect recharge and discharge areas are more significantly affected by external environments, including domestic sewage, industrial wastewater discharge, and agricultural fertilizers. These findings also suggest that elements can be transported in particle form during water-rock interactions, potentially playing a significant role in the cycling of elements between water and rocks. The particles in the study area are situated in a relatively oxidized environment, suggesting that fracture and oxidation are the main processes for particle formation. Particles can effectively transport metallic elements in groundwater, offering fresh perspectives on the migration of these elements and acting as carriers for inorganic substances, thereby increasing their mobility in aquatic environments. Given the widespread presence of natural nanoparticles in the water cycle system, some stable nanoparticles can serve as new types of groundwater tracing agents during the groundwater migration process.