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Wang Z, Kong Y, Cao X, Liu N, Wang C, Li X, Xing B. Co-photoaging inhibited the heteroaggregation between polystyrene nanoplastics and different titanium dioxide nanoparticles. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 259:121831. [PMID: 38810346 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Heteroaggregation between nanoplastics (NPs) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) determines their environmental fates and ecological risks in aquatic environments. However, the co-photoaging scenario of NPs and TiO2NPs, interaction mechanisms of TiO2NPs with (aged) NPs, as well as the dependence of their heteroaggregation on TiO2NPs facets remain elusive. We found the critical coagulation concentration (CCC) of polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) with coexisting RTiO2NPs was 1.9 - 2.2 times larger than that with coexisting ATiO2NPs, suggesting a better suspension stability of PSNPs+RTiO2NPs. In addition, CCC of TiO2NPs with coexisting photoaged PSNPs (APSNPs) was larger 1.7 - 2.2 times than that with PSNPs coexisting, indicating photoaging inhibited their heteroaggregation due to increasing electrostatic repulsion derived from increased negative charges on APSNPs and the polymer-derived dissolved organic carbon. Coexisted TiO2NPs promoted oxidation of PSNPs with the action of HO· and O2·- under UV light, leading to inhibited heteroaggregation. Moreover, Van der Waals and Lewis-acid interaction dominated the formation of primary heteroaggregates of PSNPs-TiO2NPs (ESE = ‒2.20 ∼ ‒2.78 eV) and APSNPs-TiO2NPs (ESE = ‒3.29 ∼ ‒3.67 eV), respectively. The findings provide a mechanistic insight into the environmental process of NPs and TiO2NPs, and are significant for better understanding their environmental risks in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Wang
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Yu Kong
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xuesong Cao
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Ning Liu
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Chuanxi Wang
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xiaona Li
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, United States
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Liu N, Kong Y, Cao X, Yue L, Wang Z, Li X. Both nanoplastic and iron mineral types determine their heteroaggregation: Aggregation kinetics and interface process. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134192. [PMID: 38569346 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs) inevitably interact with iron minerals (IMs) after being released into aquatic environments, changing their transport and fate. In this study, batch heteroaggregation kinetics of four types of NPs, i.e., polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS-Bare), amino-polystyrene (PS-NH2), and carboxyl-polystyrene (PS-COOH), with two different IMs (hematite and magnetite) were conducted. We found that the heteroaggregation of NPs and IMs and the associated interfacial interaction mechanisms are both NPs-dependent and IMs-dependent. Specifically, the NPs had stronger heteroaggregation with hematite than magnetite; the heteroaggregation order of two IMs with NPs was PMMA > PS-NH2 > PS-Bare > PS-COOH. Moreover, hydrogen bond, complexation, hydrophobic, cation-π, and electrostatic interaction were involved in the interfacial reaction between NPs and hematite, and electrons were transferred from the NPs to the hematite, causing the reduction of Fe3+ into Fe2+. Furthermore, we first revealed that both pre-homoaggregation of NPs and IMs could affect their subsequent heteroaggregation, and the homoaggregates of IMs could be interrupted by PMMA or PS-COOH NPs introduction. Therefore, the emerging NPs pollution is likely to generate an ecological effect in terms of elemental cycles such as iron cycle. This work provides new insights into assessing the environmental transfer and ecological effects of NPs in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Liu
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Yu Kong
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Xuesong Cao
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Le Yue
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Zhenyu Wang
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Xiaona Li
- Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
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Yu K, Huan WW, Teng HJ, Guo JZ, Li B. Effect of oxygen-containing functional group contents on sorption of lead ions by acrylate-functionalized hydrochar. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123921. [PMID: 38574948 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
The surface functional groups of hydrochar are crucial to its surface properties, and their contents are strongly positively correlated with the adsorption performance. In this study, acrylate-functionalized hydrochar (AHC) with varying contents of O-containing functional groups (OFGs) was synthesized via hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of bamboo, acrylic acid and an initiator, and then deprotonated with NaOH. The AHCs were analyzed by various characterization techniques. During HTC, the higher amount of acrylic acid added led to higher carbon, oxygen and carboxyl contents, and to the larger specific surface area and pore volume of AHC. The adsorption kinetics, isotherms, thermodynamic, ionic strength and pH effects of Pb(II) on AHC were studied. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics obeyed Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models, respectively, indicating adsorption is monolayer chemical process. The adsorptive ability was well linearly related to the OFG contents of AHC. When acrylic acid was added to 25 mL during HTC, the adsorbing ability of AHC over Pb(II) reached 193.90 mg g-1. Hence, direct HTC of acrylic acid, biomass and an initiator can prepare hydrochar with controllable OFG contents, which is a prospective adsorbent for treating metal cations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Yu
- College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, PR China
| | - Wei-Wei Huan
- College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, PR China
| | - Hua-Jing Teng
- College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, PR China
| | - Jian-Zhong Guo
- College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, PR China
| | - Bing Li
- College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, PR China.
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Zhou Z, Zhang C, Xi M, Ma H, Jia H. Multi-scale modeling of natural organic matter-heavy metal cations interactions: Aggregation and stabilization mechanisms. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 238:120007. [PMID: 37121201 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Interaction between natural organic matters (NOM) and heavy metal cations in aqueous environment are of great significance for maintaining stability of organic carbon and restraining transport of heavy metal contaminants in (bio)geochemical processes. We systematically explore the aggregation process and complexation between NOM and heavy metal cations (Ag+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Eu3+) under different pH condition by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, umbrella sampling method, and quantum chemistry calculations. The character of molecular structures NOM-heavy metal complexes and association are quantified. In acidic pH condition, aggregation proceeds via H-bonding and π-π interactions between NOM fragments. In neutral condition, Ag+, Cd2+, Pb2+, and Eu3+ can form inner-sphere complexes with the surface carboxylic groups and therefore reduce intermolecular charge repulsion, eventually leading to NOM aggregation, and it shows that even without direct binding, the outer-sphere adsorbed Zn2+ can also result in the formation of NOM assemble through H-bonding. Consequently, these heavy metals are capable of promoting NOM aggregation regardless of the complexing ways. Complexing free energy calculations characterized the dynamic processes of cations binding to the carboxylic groups of NOM fragment and the related energy landscape. This study provides quantitative insights for understanding the environmental processes of heavy metals and cycle of C in aquatic ecosystem, and contributes to developing environment-friendly strategies for controlling heavy metal contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyu Zhou
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, P.R. China
| | - Chi Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Green Agriculture in Northwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, P.R. China.
| | - Mengning Xi
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, P.R. China
| | - Haonan Ma
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, P.R. China
| | - Hanzhong Jia
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Green Agriculture in Northwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, P.R. China.
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