Journal of Nanomaterials & Molecular NanotechnologyISSN: 2324-8777

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Research Article, J Nanomater Mol Nanotechnol Vol: 4 Issue: 3

Airborne Silica and Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles: Collection with Aqueous Surfactant or Chemical Reagent

Olaitan Edu1 and Edward PC Lai1,2*
1Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
2Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel by DriveOttawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
Corresponding author : Edward PC Lai
Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
Tel : 613-520-2600 ext. 3835; Fax: 613-520-3749
E-mail: edward.lai@carleton.ca
Received: March19, 2015 Accepted: May 30, 2015 Published: June 04, 2015
Citation: Edu O, Lai EPC (2015) Airborne Silica and Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles: Collection with Aqueous Surfactant or Chemical Reagent. J Nanomater Mol Nanotechnol 4:2. doi:10.4172/2324-8777.1000162

Abstract

Airborne Silica and Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles: Collection with Aqueous Surfactant or Chemical Reagent

Silica (SiO2) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are widely used in agricultural, cosmetic and medical products. However, sampling devices are not readily available to help environmental scientists assess the levels of these nanoparticles that have been emitted and released to air by various sources. In this work, airborne particulates were bubbled through water containing either a surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) or chemical reagent (ammonium molybdate + ascorbic acid) and transferred into an aqueous suspension. Changes in the UV-visible spectrum were measured for different concentrations of silica (1 to 5 mg/ml) and titanium dioxide (1 to 3 mg/ml) nanoparticles at a fixed concentration of sodium dodecyl sulphate (4 mg/ml) or ammonium molybdate/ ascorbic acid (chemical reagent). Capillary electrophoresis with UV detection at 190 nm verified the attraction between titanium dioxide and dodecyl sulfate anions. A strong peak of UV light absorption at 311 nm was observed for titanium dioxide nanoparticles added to the reagent. Silica nanoparticles did not react with the reagent, even though the absorption peak at 280 nm varied linearly with their concentration. A UV absorption peak at 328 nm verified the formation of a complex between the reagent and dissolved silicate. Advantages of the sampling device include simple construction, low surfactant or chemical reagent cost, and high collection efficiency.

Keywords: Airborne nanoparticles; Capillary electrophoresis; Dodecyl sulfate; Molybdate; Silica; Titanium dioxide; UV-visible spectrophotometry

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