title: Characterization of size, morphology and elemental composition of nano-, submicron, and micron particles of street dust separated using field-flow fractionation in a rotating coiled column.
abstract: For the first time, nano- and submicron particles of street dust have been separated, weighted, and analyzed. A novel technique, sedimentation field-flow fractionation in a rotating coiled column, was applied to the fractionation of dust samples with water being used as a carrier fluid. The size and morphology of particles in the separated fractions were characterized by electronic microscopy before digestion and the determination of the concentration of elements by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. The elements that may be of anthropogenic origin (Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd, Sn, Pb) were found to concentrate mainly in <0.3 and 0.3-1 μm fractions. It has been shown that the concentrations of Cr, Ni, Zn in the finest fraction (<0.3 μm) of street dust can be one order of magnitude higher than the concentrations of elements in bulk sample and coarse fractions. For example, the concentrations of Ni in <0.3, 0.3-1, 1-10, and 10-100 μm fractions were 297 ± 46, 130 ± 21, 36 ± 10, and 21 ± 4 mg/kg, correspondingly. Though the finest particles present only about 0.1 mass% of the sample they are of special concern due to their increased mobility and ability to penetrate into the deepest alveolar area of the lungs. For rare earth elements (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) that are evidently of natural source and may be found in soil minerals, in contrary, higher concentrations were observed in large particles (10-100 μm). Sc was an exception that needs further studies. The proposed approach to the fractionation and analysis of nano-, submicron, and micron particles can be a powerful tool for risk assessment related to toxic elements in dust, ash, and other particulate environmental samples.
authors.affiliation: Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 19 Kosygin Street, Moscow 119991, Russia; National University of Science and Technology "MISiS", 4 Leninsky Prospect, Moscow 119049, Russia. Electronic address: fedotov_ps@mail.ru.
authors.forename: Petr S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Fedotov
authors.affiliation: Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 19 Kosygin Street, Moscow 119991, Russia; National University of Science and Technology "MISiS", 4 Leninsky Prospect, Moscow 119049, Russia. Electronic address: mihail.ermolin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mikhail S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ermolin
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Microelectronics Technology and High-Purity Materials, Russian Academy of Sciences, 6 Institution Street, Chernogolovka 142432, Russia. Electronic address: karan@iptm.ru.
authors.forename: Vasily K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Karandashev
authors.affiliation: Lomonosov Moscow State University, GSP-1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia. Electronic address: ladonin@inbox.ru.
authors.forename: Dmitry V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Ladonin
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D031521:Fractionation, Field Flow / Q000379:methods*; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D008670:Metals
keywords: Field-flow fractionation; Nano- and submicron particles; Quantitative elemental analysis; Rotating coiled column; Street dust