Changes in the Aggregation Behaviour of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Influenced by Perfluorooctanoic Acid, Salts, and Humic Acid in Simulated Waters-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Changes in the Aggregation Behaviour of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Influenced by Perfluorooctanoic Acid, Salts, and Humic Acid in Simulated Waters

Published:2024-08-18 Issue:8 Volume:12 Page:602
ISSN:2305-6304
Container-title:Toxics
language:en
Short-container-title:Toxics

Author:

Khan Anwar Ul Haq¹²,Liu Yanju¹²,Naidu Ravi¹²,Fang Cheng¹²,Shon Ho Kyong³^ORCID,Zhang Huiming⁴,Dharmarajan Rajarathnam⁵

Affiliation:

1. Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), College of Engineering Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia

2. crc for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (crcCARE), ATC Building, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia

3. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), City Campus, Broadway, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia

4. Electron Microscope and X-ray (EMX) Unit, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia

5. Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia

Abstract

The increasing utilization of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in many consumer products is of concern due to their eventual release into the natural environment and induction of potentially adverse impacts. The behaviour and environmental impacts of ZnO-NPs could be altered through their interactions with environmentally coexisting substances. This study investigated the changes in the behaviour of ZnO-NPs in the presence of coexisting organic pollutants (such as perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA]), natural organic substances (i.e., humic acid [HA]), and electrolytes (i.e., NaCl and CaCl2) in simulated waters. The size, shape, purity, crystallinity, and surface charge of the ZnO-NPs in simulated water after different interaction intervals (such as 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks) at a controlled pH of 7 were examined using various characterization techniques. The results indicated alterations in the size (such as 162.4 nm, 1 day interaction to >10 µm, 3 weeks interaction) and zeta potential (such as −47.2 mV, 1 day interaction to −0.2 mV, 3 weeks interaction) of the ZnO-NPs alone and when PFOA, electrolytes, and HA were present in the suspension. Different influences on the size and surface charge of the nanoparticles were observed for fixed concentrations (5 mM) of the different electrolytes. The presence of HA-dispersed ZnO-NPs affected the zeta potential. Such dispersal effects were also observed in the presence of both PFOA and salts due to their large aliphatic carbon content and complex structure. Cation bridging effects, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and van der Waals forces could be potential interaction forces responsible for the adsorption of PFOA. The presence of organic pollutants (PFOA) and natural organic substances (HA) can transform the surface characteristics and fate of ZnO-NPs in natural and sea waters.

Publisher

MDPI AG

Link

https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/8/602/pdf

Reference68 articles.

1. Stoller, M., and Ochando-Pulido, J.M. (2020). ZnO nano-particles production intensification by means of a spinning disk reactor. Nanomaterials, 10.

2. Nanoparticles in the environment: Where do we come from, where do we go to?;Bundschuh;Environ. Sci. Eur.,2018

3. Nanomaterials in the environment: Behavior, fate, bioavailability, and effects—An updated review;Lead;Environ. Toxicol. Chem.,2018

4. Zinc oxide nanoparticles in modern sunscreens: An analysis of potential exposure and hazard;Osmond;Nanotoxicology,2009

5. Evidence for negative effects of TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles on soil bacterial communities;Ge;Environ. Sci. Technol.,2011