Influence of humic acid (HA) on stability and attachment of nTiO2 particles to sand was investigated. Results showed that HA can either promote or hinder nTiO2 stability, depending on pH and HA concentration. HA can either enhance or reduce nTiO2 attachment to Fe oxyhydroxide coating at pH 5, depending on HA concentration.Results further showed that at pH 5, Fe oxyhydroxide coating reduced nTiO2 attachment to sand in the absence of HA but increased nTiO2 attachment in the presence of low concentration of HA. Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory was invoked to analyze particle-to-particle and particle-to-sand interactions in order to elucidate the roles of pH, HA, quartz, and Fe coating in controlling nTiO2 stability and attachment. Overall, this study showed that changes in zeta potential of nTiO2 and Fe coating due to pH changes and/or HA adsorption are the key factors that influence stability and attachment of nTiO2.iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS