Comparison of the Aggregation Behavior of TiO2 Nanoparticles Exposed to Fulvic Acid and Bacillus subtilis Exudates

Duster, Thomas A.; Fein, Jeremy B.

Comparison of the Aggregation Behavior of TiO2 Nanoparticles Exposed to Fulvic Acid and Bacillus subtilis Exudates

2014

Duster, Thomas A. | Fein, Jeremy B.

The objective of this study was to compare the relative impact of humic and non-humic natural organic matter (NOM) on the aggregation behaviors of engineered TiO₂nanoparticles (nano-TiO₂). After exposure of nano-TiO₂to varying concentrations of Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA) and Bacillus subtilis exudate in high and low ionic strength (IS) solutions at pH 3 to pH 7.5, aggregation behaviors were evaluated via dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements and sedimentation studies. Although pH, IS, and NOM concentration exerted strong controls on nano-TiO₂aggregation behaviors, suspensions exposed to either SRFA or bacterial exudate at normalized dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations exhibited remarkably similar behaviors. In high IS systems, nano-TiO₂exposed to either SRFA or bacterial exudate sedimented rapidly, except in the presence of high NOM concentrations at pH 6 and 7.5. Low IS treatments exhibited a larger range of effects. In fact, relative to NOM-free controls, nano-TiO₂aggregates in SRFA and bacterial exudate exposures sedimented up to 14 times faster at pH 3 and up to 13 times slower at pH 7.5. Adsorption of organic molecules onto nano-TiO₂can enhance aggregation via colloidal bridging and/or charge neutralization, or with more complete surface coverage, can diminish aggregation via electrostatic repulsion and/or steric hindrance. Collectively, these data suggest that solution pH, IS, and NOM concentration, and to a lesser extent NOM origin, can control the fate and mobility of nano-TiO₂in geologic systems.

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