Quantification and size characterisation of silver nanoparticles in environmental aqueous samples and consumer products by single particle- ICPMS

Single particle-ICPMS (SP-ICPMS) is a promising technique for the implementation of the EC recommendation on the definition of nanomaterial (2011/696/EU) as the technique is able to generate the number based-particle size distribution (PSD) of nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous suspensions. However, SP-ICPMS analysis is not consolidated as routine-technique yet and is not typically applied to real test samples with unknown composition. This work presents a methodology to detect, quantify and characterise the number-based PSD of Ag-NPs in different consumer products and real environmental aqueous samples using SP-ICPMS. The procedure is built from a pragmatic view and involves the analysis of serial dilutions of the original sample until no variation in the measured size values is observed while keeping particle counts proportional to the dilution applied. After evaluation of the analytical figures of merit, the SP-ICPMS method exhibited excellent linearity (r2>0.999) in the range (1 - 25) x 104 particles mL-1 for 30, 50 and 80 nm nominal size Ag-NPs standards. The repeatability was studied according to the RSDs of the measured size and particle number concentration values and a t-test (p=95%) at the two intermediate concentration levels was applied to determine the trueness of SP-ICPMS size values. The method showed good repeatability and an overall acceptable trueness in the studied concentration range. The experimental minimum detectable size for Ag-NPs ranged between 12-15 nm. Additionally, results derived from direct SP-ICPMS analysis were compared to the results conducted for fractions collected by asymmetric flow-field flow fractionation (AF4) and supernatant fractions after centrifugal filtration. The method has been successfully applied to determine the presence of Ag-NPs in seven different liquid silver-based consumer products; migration solutions (pure water and sweat simulant) from plasters; lake water; tap water; and tap water filtered by a filter jar. Results obtained by SP-ICPMS were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) characterisation, suggesting that the proposed methodology can be applied as a positive screening test in the simultaneous quantification and size characterisation of Ag-NPs in samples of environmental interest.

AZNAR ROCA Ramon;  BARAHONA RUIZ Francisco;  GEISS Otmar;  PONTI Jessica;  TADEO Jose Luis;  BARRERO Josefa; 

2017-08-11

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

JRC101156

0039-9140,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC101156,   

10.1016/j.talanta.2017.07.048,