Effects of particle size and surface chemistry on plastic nanoparticle transport in saturated natural porous media

Abstract

Plastic nanoparticles (PNPs) are considered contaminants of emerging concern, but little information is available on their transport behavior in the soil-water environment, as well as their behavior relative to metal and other carbon-based nanoparticles. Here we show that size and surface functional groups affect the transport of polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) through saturated soil. Unmodified 110 nm and 50 nm PS-NPs demonstrated similar transport patterns in soil. However, a maximum elution value of 90% from the soil was found for the 50 nm PS-NPs, compared to a maximum value of ∼45% for 110 nm PS-NPs. The breakthrough curve for 190 nm PS-NPs demonstrated a maximum elution value of 60% from the soil. PS-NPs with surface functional groups display different mobility profiles: carboxylated PS-NPs demonstrated a plateau of 40% elution from the soil, while aminated PS-NPs were eluted only in small amounts and showed a spike pattern of elution from the column. These findings are attributed to the effects of common soil constituents such as calcium cations and humic acids on the size and charge of the PS-NPs with surface functional groups. Overall, PS-NP mobility in soil can vary widely, depending on PNP properties such as size and surface chemistry, and on matrix properties, such as the type of porous medium and its composition. These findings suggest that knowledge of inherent characteristics (size, surface charge, surface functional groups) of PNPs are required to elucidate the behavior of such particles in soil-water environments, and predict the extent of contaminant spreading.