title: Effect of alginate on the aggregation kinetics of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs): bridging interaction and hetero-aggregation induced by Ca(2.).
abstract: The stability of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) is expected to play a key role in the environmental risk assessment of nanotoxicity in aquatic systems. In this study, the effect of alginate (model polysaccharides) on the stability of CuO NPs in various environmentally relevant ionic strength conditions was investigated by using time-resolved dynamic light scattering. Significant aggregation of CuO NPs was observed in the presence of both monovalent and divalent cations. The critical coagulation concentrations (CCC) were 54.5 and 2.9 mM for NaNO3 and Ca(NO3)2, respectively. The presence of alginate slowed nano-CuO aggregation rates over the entire NaNO3 concentration range due to the combined electrostatic and steric effect. High concentrations of Ca(2+) (>6 mM) resulted in stronger adsorption of alginate onto CuO NPs; however, enhanced aggregation of CuO NPs occurred simultaneously under the same conditions. Spectroscopic analysis revealed that the bridging interaction of alginate with Ca(2+) might be an important mechanism for the enhanced aggregation. Furthermore, significant coagulation of the alginate molecules was observed in solutions of high Ca(2+) concentrations, indicating a hetero-aggregation mechanism between the alginate-covered CuO NPs and the unabsorbed alginate. These results suggested a different aggregation mechanism of NPs might co-exist in aqueous systems enriched with natural organic matter, which should be taken into consideration in future studies. Graphical abstract Hetero-aggregation mechanism of CuO nanoparticles and alginate under high concentration of Ca(2.)
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.|College of Environment, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lingzhan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.|College of Environment, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China. hhuhjyhj@126.com.|College of Environment, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China. hhuhjyhj@126.com.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China. pfwang2005@hhu.edu.cn.|College of Environment, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China. pfwang2005@hhu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Peifang
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.|College of Environment, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yanhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.|College of Environment, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.|College of Environment, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bowen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.|College of Environment, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yangyang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.|College of Environment, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guoxiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.|College of Environment, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing, 210098, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry*; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000737:chemistry; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D009566:Nitrates; D003300:Copper; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; C031618:sodium nitrate; C059948:calcium nitrate; D002118:Calcium; C000520:cuprous oxide
keywords: Aggregation kinetics; Alginate; Bridging interaction; CuO nanoparticles; Divalent electrolytes; Hetero-aggregation mechanism