Analysis of Au nanorods in samples from an estuarine mesocosm study

ENVR 32

Timothy J. Shaw, shaw@mail.chem.sc.edu1, John L. Ferry, ferry@mail.chem.sc.edu1, Cole R. Hexel, hexel@mail.chem.sc.edu1, Preston S. Craig, craig@mail.chem.sc.edu1, Catherine J. Murphy, murphy@mail.chem.sc.edu1, Sisco Patrick, sisco@mail.chem.sc.edu1, Rebecca Frey1, G. T. Chandler2, Alan Decho3, Paul Pennington, paul.pennington@noaa.gov4, and Michael Fulton, Mike.Fulton@noaa.gov5. (1) Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, 631 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, (2) School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, (3) Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, (4) Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, 219 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC, (5) NOAA National Ocean Service, 219 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412-9110
The analysis of Au nanorods (60 nm x 15 nm; cetyltrimethylammonium bromide stabilized) in a series of samples collected for an estuarine mesocosms study is presented. Au nanorod suspensions were added to three identical mesocosms and samples of water, sediment, biofilms and tissue phases were collected to measure Au distributions over time. Initial gold particle loadings were nominally 3.6x1010 particles/L. The stability of Au nanorod suspensions in natural waters (fresh to saline) were investigated in a variety of sample containers to minimize sample loss to container walls. Methods of injection of aqueous samples containing Au nanorods into an ICP-MS were investigated. Direct injection of particles in aqueous samples was compared to pre-digestion of particles with aqua regia. Both methods were comparable within 5%. However, direct injection of particles resulted in memory effects in the spray chamber. Solid samples were digested using a modified HF-HNO3 digestion followed by uptake in aqua regia. Results from aqueous, sediment, biofilm and tissue phases will be presented.
 

Environmental Behavior and Fate of Manufactured Nanomaterials
1:30 PM-5:35 PM, Sunday, April 6, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Rm. 235, Oral

Division of Environmental Chemistry

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