title: Detection of silver nanoparticles in seawater at ppb levels using UV-visible spectrophotometry with long path cells.
abstract: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are emerging contaminants that are difficult to detect in natural waters. UV-visible spectrophotometry is a simple technique that allows detection of AgNPs through analysis of their characteristic surface plasmon resonance band. The detection limit for nanoparticles using up to 10cm path length cuvettes with UV-visible spectrophotometry is in the 0.1-10ppm range. This detection limit is insufficiently low to observe AgNPs in natural environments. Here we show how the use of capillary cells with an optical path length up to 200cm, forms an excellent technique for rapid detection and quantification of non-aggregated AgNPs at ppb concentrations in complex natural matrices such as seawater.
authors.affiliation: Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, SO14 3ZH Southampton, UK. Electronic address: plodeiro@geomar.de.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lodeiro
authors.affiliation: Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, European Way, SO14 3ZH Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Eric P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Achterberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, Damietta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammad S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: El-Shahawi
keywords: Long path cell; NM300K; Seawater; Silver nanoparticles; Surface plasmon resonance band; UV–visible spectrophotometry