Transformation of Engineered Copper Oxide Nanoparticles in Surface Waters

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) are widely used for their catalytic properties, conductive capacity, and innovations in the fields of superconductors, alloys, and solar energy sensors. To better understand the impact of water chemistry on the stability of CuO nanoparticles, a series of measurem...

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Main Authors: Patrice Turcotte, Christian Gagnon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Journal of Xenobiotics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/14/4/78
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author Patrice Turcotte
Christian Gagnon
author_facet Patrice Turcotte
Christian Gagnon
author_sort Patrice Turcotte
collection DOAJ
description Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) are widely used for their catalytic properties, conductive capacity, and innovations in the fields of superconductors, alloys, and solar energy sensors. To better understand the impact of water chemistry on the stability of CuO nanoparticles, a series of measurements were carried out on nanoparticles suspended in pure water, natural water, and water enriched with natural organic matter fulvic acid (FA). ICP-MS characterization in single-particle mode (SP-ICP-MS) was performed to determine the stability or transformation of nanoparticles in contrasting water conditions. We first observed that particle sedimentation was very fast in pure Milli-Q water. The addition of FA favored the dissolution of CuO-NPs with an increase in the dissolved copper concentration, for both Milli-Q water and natural water. The presence of FA also reduced the size of CuO-NPs (i.e., less aggregation) measured in natural water. By comparing signals of single particles, FA decreased nanoparticle numbers as well, confirming the increase in dissolution of CuO-NPs over time. The transformation products of CuO-NPs are important in the ecological context since the uptake and toxicity of parent nanoparticles differ from those of the chemical species in solution. Further considerations are needed on the fate of released NPs to better assess their exposure pathways to aquatic organisms and potential environmental risks.
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spelling doaj-art-b4746bca9ce948bf999af42af6c1cbff2024-12-27T14:34:13ZengMDPI AGJournal of Xenobiotics2039-47052039-47132024-10-011441406141410.3390/jox14040078Transformation of Engineered Copper Oxide Nanoparticles in Surface WatersPatrice Turcotte0Christian Gagnon1Environment & Climate Change Canada, Water Science & Technology, 105 McGill St., Montréal, QC H2Y 2E7, CanadaEnvironment & Climate Change Canada, Water Science & Technology, 105 McGill St., Montréal, QC H2Y 2E7, CanadaCopper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) are widely used for their catalytic properties, conductive capacity, and innovations in the fields of superconductors, alloys, and solar energy sensors. To better understand the impact of water chemistry on the stability of CuO nanoparticles, a series of measurements were carried out on nanoparticles suspended in pure water, natural water, and water enriched with natural organic matter fulvic acid (FA). ICP-MS characterization in single-particle mode (SP-ICP-MS) was performed to determine the stability or transformation of nanoparticles in contrasting water conditions. We first observed that particle sedimentation was very fast in pure Milli-Q water. The addition of FA favored the dissolution of CuO-NPs with an increase in the dissolved copper concentration, for both Milli-Q water and natural water. The presence of FA also reduced the size of CuO-NPs (i.e., less aggregation) measured in natural water. By comparing signals of single particles, FA decreased nanoparticle numbers as well, confirming the increase in dissolution of CuO-NPs over time. The transformation products of CuO-NPs are important in the ecological context since the uptake and toxicity of parent nanoparticles differ from those of the chemical species in solution. Further considerations are needed on the fate of released NPs to better assess their exposure pathways to aquatic organisms and potential environmental risks.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/14/4/78transformationnanomaterialsmetalsnatural watersparticle size
spellingShingle Patrice Turcotte
Christian Gagnon
Transformation of Engineered Copper Oxide Nanoparticles in Surface Waters
Journal of Xenobiotics
transformation
nanomaterials
metals
natural waters
particle size
title Transformation of Engineered Copper Oxide Nanoparticles in Surface Waters
title_full Transformation of Engineered Copper Oxide Nanoparticles in Surface Waters
title_fullStr Transformation of Engineered Copper Oxide Nanoparticles in Surface Waters
title_full_unstemmed Transformation of Engineered Copper Oxide Nanoparticles in Surface Waters
title_short Transformation of Engineered Copper Oxide Nanoparticles in Surface Waters
title_sort transformation of engineered copper oxide nanoparticles in surface waters
topic transformation
nanomaterials
metals
natural waters
particle size
url https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/14/4/78
work_keys_str_mv AT patriceturcotte transformationofengineeredcopperoxidenanoparticlesinsurfacewaters
AT christiangagnon transformationofengineeredcopperoxidenanoparticlesinsurfacewaters