Title: Influence of salinity, dissolved organic carbon and particle chemistry on the aggregation behaviour of methacrylate-based polymeric nanoparticles in aqueous environments

Authors: Andy M. Booth; Justyna Justynska; Stephan Kubowicz; Heidi Johnsen; Max Frenzel

Addresses: Department of Marine Environmental Technology, SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, N-7465 Trondheim, Norway ' Department of Synthesis and Properties, SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, N-7465 Trondheim, Norway; Ciba Vision GmbH, Bauhofstr. 16, D-63762 Grossostheim, Germany ' Department of Synthesis and Properties, SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, N-7465 Trondheim, Norway ' Department of Synthesis and Properties, SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, N-7465 Trondheim, Norway ' Department of Marine Environmental Technology, SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, N-7465 Trondheim, Norway; Oil Plus Ltd, Dominion House, Kennet Side, Newbury RG14 5PX, UK

Abstract: This study investigates the influence of salinity, dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentration, particle chemistry and particle concentration on the aggregation behaviour of methacrylate-based polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) in aquatic systems. Three PNPs with different chemical compositions were synthesised by mini-emulsion polymerisation using an ionic (sodium dodecyl sulphate; SDS) and a non-ionic stabiliser (Lutensol AT50). The most hydrophobic PNPs formed stable dispersions in deionised water, with the most hydrophilic aggregating immediately. All PNPs synthesised using SDS rapidly aggregated under mildly saline conditions whilst those synthesised using Lutensol AT50 were unaffected effected by salinity. The rate of PNP aggregation under saline conditions increased with increasing PNP concentration. Natural DOM in lake water did not influence the aggregation behaviour of the PNPs except at high PNP concentrations (500 mg/L). The results show that salinity, PNP particle chemistry, PNP concentration and the type of stabilising agent used in synthesis can strongly influence their behaviour in aquatic environments, whilst DOM concentration is less significant.

Keywords: salinity; polymeric nanoparticles; PNP engineered nanoparticles; ENPs; dissolved organic matter; DOM; aquatic behaviour; non-ionic stabilisers; ionic stabilisers; fluorescent labelling; surface chemistry; freshwater; seawater; environmental pollution; aggregation behaviour; methacrylate; nanotechnology; particle chemistry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2013.056358

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2013 Vol.52 No.1/2, pp.15 - 31

Received: 26 Apr 2012
Accepted: 13 Nov 2012
Published online: 28 Feb 2014 *

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