Effects of small molecular weight acids on C60 aggregate formation and transport

ENVR 26

Peter J. Vikesland, pvikes@vt.edu1, Xiaojun Chang, changx@vt.edu1, Laura K. Duncan, laduncan@vt.edu1, Joerg R. Jinschek2, and Matthew Chan, mychan@vt.edu1. (1) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 418 Durham Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, (2) Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061
The discovery that negatively charged aggregates of C60 are stable in aqueous environments has elicited concerns regarding the potential environmental and health effects of these aggregates. Although many previous studies have used aggregates synthesized using intermediate organic solvents, this work employed an aggregate production method believed to more closely emulate the fate of fullerene upon accidental release – extended mixing in waters that contain small molecular weight acids (e.g., tartartic, citric and acetic acids). The aggregates formed in the presence of these acids tend to be more homogeneous in size than those mixed in water alone. In addition, the average diameter of the aggregates is smaller in the presence of low molecular weight acids than in their absence. The implications of these differences will be discussed in terms of both particle stability and transport through a sand-column.
 

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