Detection and Quantification of Silver Nanoparticles at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations Using Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation Online with Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry.
The presence of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in aquatic environments could potentially cause adverse impacts on ecosystems and human health. However, current understanding of the environmental fate and transport of AgNPs is still limited because their properties in complex environmental samples cannot be accurately determined. In this study, the feasibility of using asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) connected online with single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICPMS) to detect and quantify AgNPs at environmentally relevant concentrations was investigated. The AF4 channel had a thickness of 350 μm and its accumulation wall was a 10 kDa regenerated cellulose membrane. A 0.02% FL-70 surfactant solution was used as an AF4 carrier. With 1.2 mL/min AF4 cross-flow rate, 1.5 mL/min AF4 channel flow rate, and 5 ms spICPMS dwell time, the AF4-spICPMS can detect and quantify 40-80 nm AgNPs, as well as Ag-SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles (51.0 nm diameter Ag core and 21.6 nm SiO2 shell), with good recovery within 30 min. This system was not only effective in differentiating and quantifying different types of AgNPs with similar hydrodynamic diameters, such as in mixtures containing Ag-SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles and 40-80 nm AgNPs, but also suitable for differentiating between 40 nm AgNPs and elevated Ag(+) content. The study results indicate that AF4-spICPMS is capable of detecting and quantifying AgNPs and other engineered metal nanomaterials in environmental samples. Nevertheless, further studies are needed before AF4-spICPMS can become a routine analytical technique.
National Research Council Post-Doctoral Associate at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Exposure Methods and Measurement Divison , Environmental Chemistry Branch, 944 East Harmon Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119, United States.
Khanh An
KA
Huynh
Chemistry Department, University of Nevada Las Vegas , 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154, United States.
Emily
E
Siska
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Exposure Methods and Measurement Divison , Environmental Chemistry Branch, 944 East Harmon Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119, United States.
Edward
E
Heithmar
Postnova Analytics Inc, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102, United States.
Soheyl
S
Tadjiki
Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Crete , Voutes Campus, Heraklion, 71003, Greece.
Spiros A
SA
Pergantis