Open AccessElemental Mass Size Distribution for Characterization, Quantification and Identification of Trace Nanoparticles in Serum and Environmental Waters
Author(s) -
Xiaoxia Zhou,
Jingfu Liu,
Guibin Jiang
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
environmental science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.851
H-Index - 397
eISSN - 1520-5851
pISSN - 0013-936X
DOI - 10.1021/acs.est.6b05539
Subject(s) - particle size , dissolution , nanoparticle tracking analysis , inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry , nanoparticle , mass spectrometry , chemistry , characterization (materials science) , size exclusion chromatography , elution , chromatography , analytical chemistry (journal) , particle size distribution , silver nanoparticle , transmission electron microscopy , materials science , nanotechnology , microrna , biochemistry , microvesicles , gene , enzyme
Accurate characterization, quantification, and identification of nanoparticles (NPs) are essential to fully understand the environmental processes and effects of NPs. Herein, the elemental mass size distribution (EMSD), which measures particle size, mass, and composition, is proposed for the direct size characterization, mass quantification, and composition identification of trace NPs in complex matrixes. A one-step method for the rapid measurement of EMSDs in 8 min was developed through the online coupling of size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The use of a mobile phase with a relatively high ionic strength (a mixture of 2% FL-70 and 2 mM Na 2 S 2 O 3 ) ensured the complete elution of different-sized NPs from the column and, therefore, a size-independent response. After application of a correction for instrumental broadening by a method developed in this study, the size distribution of NPs by EMSD determination agreed closely with that obtained from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Compared with TEM, EMSD allows a more rapid determination with a higher mass sensitivity (1 pg for gold and silver NPs) and comparable size discrimination (0.27 nm). The proposed EMSD-based method was capable of identifying trace Ag 2 S NPs and core-shell nanocomposite Au@Ag, as well as quantitatively tracking the dissolution and size transformation of silver nanoparticles in serum and environmental waters.