Bacterial toxicity of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

ENVR 59

Seoktae Kang, seoktae.kang@yale.edu and Menachem Elimelech, menachem.elimelech@yale.edu. Department of Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering Program, Yale University, Mason Laboratory 204, 9 Hillhouse Ave., New Haven, CT 06520
Recent studies have raised concerns about potential health effects of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and adverse impact on the environment. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the physicochemical properties and the biotoxicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). MWNT physicochemical properties were varied via various purification methods as well as by functionalization of MWNTs. The purification and functionalization steps greatly modified the physical and chemical properties of MWNTs, including aspect ratio, metal content, surface charge, tube-end structure and hydrophobicity. Three independent bio-assays with E. coli cells showed that all MWNTs exhibited mild biotoxicity (up to 40%). Biotoxicity increased when MWNTs were short, uncapped and functionalized.
 

Environmental Behavior and Fate of Manufactured Nanomaterials
8:30 AM-12:10 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Rm. 235, Oral

Division of Environmental Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008