Aggregation and stability of Fe2O3:Influence of humic acid concentration, Fe2O3 concentration and pH

Abstract

The scenario of released nanoparticles from consumer product into the environment especially natural waters are increased concern nowadays. Assessing their aggregation and stability under environmental conditions are important to determining their fate and behavior in natural waters. The aggregation behavior of Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated at variable concentration of humic acid, Fe2O3 NPs concentration and pH variation in solution using dynamic light scattering to measure their z-average hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential value. The stability are then evaluated by assessing their aggregation and disaggregation. Increasing humic acid concentration induced the disaggregation of Fe2O3 NPs. At a lower concentrations of Fe2O3 (< 30 mg/L), aggregate formed and disaggregation take place with increasing Fe2O3 concentration (50, 100, 150, 200 mg/L). The maximum aggregation was found in pH 4 at a constant concentration of humic acid of 100 mg/L and concentration of Fe2O3 (100 mg/L). High pH (>5) of solution induced disaggregation of suspensions and make it stable in the solution. TEM imaging have confirmed that Fe2O3 NPs aggregate and disaggregate in the presence of humic acid. Our study result shows that aggregation and stability of Fe2O3 NPs were depends on concentration of humic acid, concentration of NPs itself and the pH of the solutions.