Organic contaminants and carbon nanoparticles: sorption mechanisms and impact parameters

Abstract

Carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) are novel manufactured materials with unique properties and have potential for a variety of applications. Adsorption of organic contaminants by discharged CNPs may affect the fate and transport of organic contaminants in the environment. This review summarizes the present research progress regarding organic contaminant adsorption on CNPs, and provides important information for the evaluation of the environmental behavior of organic contaminants and the risks associated with the use of CNPs. The main adsorption mechanisms involve hydrophobic interactions, π-π interactions, hydrogen bonds, and electrostatic interactions. These interactions may exist simultaneously, while the controlling adsorption mechanism differs depending on the properties of both the organic contaminants and the CNPs along with environmental conditions. The status of CNPs in the environment greatly affects or even controls their characteristics for adsorption of organic contaminants. The mobility and transport of dispersed CNPs and CNP-adsorbed organic contaminants could be promoted in natural aqueous environments, potentially increasing the spread of various organic contaminants and their associated environmental risks. Investigating the adsorption mechanisms and impact parameters is vital in predicting the environmental behaviors of both organic contaminants and CNPs and their associated risks.

Investigation of carbon-based nanomaterials as sorbents for headspace in-tube extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

“…This results in the contribution of various types of molecular interactions, such as hydrophobic, π-π electron donor-acceptor, or hydrogen bond interactions. Nonetheless, the sorption of organic molecules on CNMs is known to be mainly dominated by π-π interactions [35]. Figure 2 depicts a chromatogram of the eight extracted PAHs from the HS of the aqueous samples with the five CNMs and a commercial sorbent for ITEX (Tenax GR) (a shift in the retention time of the MWCNTs-COOH, graphene platelets, and Tenax GR chromatograms stems from shortening the GC column).…”

Monitoring the adsorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on carbon black by LDI-MS capable of simultaneous analysis of elemental and organic carbon

“…The interaction of CB and co-existing substances in the aquatic environment can greatly affect the adsorption behavior of organic contaminants. [31][32][33] Thus, the effects of substances widely existing in environmental waters, including humic acid (HA) and surfactants, on the adsorption behaviors of PFASs on CB were also studied. Adsorption rate (%) was used to evaluate the surface adsorption efficiency of particles.…”

Environmental risks of engineered nanomaterials

“…They noted that (1) cultivation of crops in nanoparticle contaminated environments has unknown implications for food safety and quality, (2) mechanisms underlying nanoparticle phytotoxicity and bioavailability are unclear, and (3) developing novel techniques for in vivo identification/ characterization of nanoparticles are critically needed. Peng et al (2014) provided a systematical review on sorption mechanisms and impact parameters of organic contaminants on CNTs. From the information in various literature, they worried that dispersed CNTs may result in higher health and environmental risks than undispersed ones when they are released into the environment because dispersed CNTs could expose more sorption sites and thus enhance the adsorption of organic contaminants.…”