Comparison of three labeled silica nanoparticles used as tracers in transport experiments in porous media. Part I: syntheses and characterizations.
The synthesis and the characterization of three kinds of labeled silica nanoparticles were performed. Three different labeling strategies were investigated: fluorescent organic molecule (FITC) embedded in silica matrix, heavy metal core (Ag(0)) and radioactive core ((110m)Ag) surrounded by a silica shell. The main properties and the suitability of each kind of labeled nanoparticle in terms of size, surface properties, stability, detection limits, and cost were determined and compared regarding its use for transport studies. Fluorescent labeling was found the most convenient and the cheapest, but the best detection limits were reached with chemical (Ag(0)) and radio-labeled ((110m)Ag) nanoparticles, which also allowed nondestructive quantifications. This work showed that the choice of labeled nanoparticles as surrogates of natural colloids or manufactured nanoparticles strongly depends on the experimental conditions, especially the concentration and amount required, the composition of the effluent, and the timescale of the experiment.
UJF-Grenoble/CNRS-INSU/G-INP/IRD, LTHE UMR 5564, Grenoble F-38041, France; CEA, Technological Research Division, LCSN, Grenoble F-38054, France.
Elsa
E
Vitorge
Stéphanie
S
Szenknect
Jean M F
JM
Martins
Véronique
V
Barthès
Aurélien
A
Auger
Oliver
O
Renard
Jean-Paul
JP
Gaudet
D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
D003102:Colloids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
Core–shell nanoparticles; Fluorescent labeling; Radioactive labeling; Silica colloids; Tracers