Fate of Silica Nanoparticles in Simulated Primary Wastewater Treatment

Jarvie, Helen P.; Al-Obaidi, Hisham; King, Stephen M.; Bowes, Michael J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0673-1934; Lawrence, M. Jayne; Drake, Alex F.; Green, Mark A.; Dobson, Peter J.. 2009 Fate of Silica Nanoparticles in Simulated Primary Wastewater Treatment. Environmental Science & Technology, 43 (22). 8622-8628. https://doi.org/10.1021/es901399q

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Official URL: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es901399q

Abstract/Summary

Through novel application of small-angle neutron scattering, we examined the fate of silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs)during simulated primary wastewater treatment, by measuring, in real time, the colloidal behavior of SiO2NPs in wastewater (sewage). We examined the effects of surface functionality on SiO2NP fate in wastewater, by comparing both unfunctionalized (uncoated or “bare”) SiO2NPsand SiO2NPsfunctionalized with a thin coating of a nonionic surfactant (Tween 20), which is widely used in personal care and household product formulations containing engineered oxide nanoparticles. Our results show new evidence that the surface functionality of SiO2NPs plays a crucial role in their flocculation and sedimentation behavior in wastewater, and thus the likely efficacy of their removal from the effluent stream during primary wastewater treatment. Uncoated SiO2NPs did not flocculate in wastewater over typical residence times for primary treatment. Conversely, surface-functionalized (Tween-coated) SiO2NPs underwent rapid flocculation in wastewater. Our results show that the surface-functionalized SiO2NPs are likely to be removed by sedimentation to sewage sludge (typically recycled to land), whereas uncoated SiO2NPs will continue through the effluent stream. While nanoparticle design is driven by use purpose, this study shows new potential for exploiting surface functionalization of nanoparticles to modify their environmental pathways.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1021/es901399q
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water > WA Topic 2 - Ecohydrological Processes > WA - 2.1 - Identify and quantify sources, fluxes and pathways of water, chemicals ...
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Acreman
ISSN:	0013-936X
Additional Keywords:	nanoparticles, silica, sewage, wastewater, primary treatment, surfactant, surface functionalisation, fate
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Chemistry
Related URLs:	Author's Homepage
Date made live:	01 Dec 2009 13:27 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/8657

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1021/es901399q

Programmes:

CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water > WA Topic 2 - Ecohydrological Processes > WA - 2.1 - Identify and quantify sources, fluxes and pathways of water, chemicals ...

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Acreman

ISSN:

0013-936X

Additional Keywords:

nanoparticles, silica, sewage, wastewater, primary treatment, surfactant, surface functionalisation, fate