Impacts of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on Transformation of Silver Nanoparticles in Aquatic Environments

Yinqing Zhang, Liwen Qiang, Yuting Yuan, Wei Wu, Binbin Sun, Lingyan Zhu

Index: 10.1039/C8EN00044A

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Abstract

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in industrial products and consumer goods due to their excellent physicochemical and antimicrobial properties. As a result of their wide applications, AgNPs and nano-TiO2 may present in the same natural aquatic systems or wastewater treatment plants. In this study, the impacts of nano-TiO2 on transformation of AgNPs in dark and under simulated sunlight irradiation were investigated. In dark condition, heteroaggregation occurred between nano-TiO2 and AgNPs. Under sunlight irradiation, nano-TiO2 promoted dissolution of AgNPs to release Ag+ ions and the impact became more significant as the concentration of nano-TiO2 increased. The promotion effect was attributed by the highly oxidative hydroxyl radicals generated by nano-TiO2 under sunlight irradiation. Meanwhile, some small fresh Ag0 nanoparticles formed due to reduction of the released Ag+ ions by the photogenerated electrons on nano-TiO2. Natural organic matters, such as fulvic acid, could attenuate the promotion effect due to adsorption on the surface of nano-TiO2 and suppression on generation of hydroxyl radicals. Since Ag+ ions and small sized Ag0 nanoparticles displayed greater toxicities than large-sized AgNPs, the interaction of nano-TiO2 and AgNPs under sunlight irradiation could significantly affect the bioavailability and ecotoxicities of AgNPs.