Nanotechnology in action: silver nanoparticles for improved eco-friendly remediation (original) (raw)
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Silver nanoparticles in the environment
Environmental Science-Processes & Impacts, 2013
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are well known for their excellent antibacterial ability and superior physical properties, and are widely used in a growing number of applications ranging from home disinfectants and medical devices to water purificants. However, with the accelerating production and introduction of AgNPs into commercial products, there is likelihood of release into the environment, which raises health and environmental concerns. This article provides a critical review of the state-of-knowledge about AgNPs, involving the history, analysis, source, fate and transport, and potential risks of AgNPs. Although great efforts have been made in each of these aspects, there are still many questions to be answered to reach a comprehensive understanding of the positive and negative effects of AgNPs. In order to fully investigate the fate and transport of AgNPs in the environment, appropriate methods for the preconcentration, separation and speciation of AgNPs should be developed, and analytical tools for the characterization and detection of AgNPs in complicated environmental samples are also urgently needed. To elucidate the environmental transformation of AgNPs, the behavior of AgNPs should be thoroughly monitored in complex environmental relevant conditions. Furthermore, additional in vivo toxicity studies should be carried out to understand the exact toxicity mechanism of AgNPs, and to predict the health effects to humans. Environmental impact There is a growing production and application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in various areas including catalysis, consumer products, food technology, textiles/ fabrics, as well as medical products and devices. It was reported that about 25% of the >1300 nanomaterial-containing consumer products contain AgNPs. The rapid growth in the commercial use of AgNPs will inevitably increase silver exposure in the environment and the general population. To correctly forecast their environmental and human health risks, a comprehensive understanding of the source, distribution, transformation and toxicity of AgNPs is needed. This article reviews the available information on the environmental and toxicological chemistry of AgNPs. There are still many gaps our knowledge that have to be lled to fully understand the benets and risks of AgNPs.
Silver Nanoparticles for Waste Water Management
Molecules
Rapidly increasing industrialisation has human needs, but the consequences have added to the environmental harm. The pollution caused by several industries, including the dye industries, generates a large volume of wastewater containing dyes and hazardous chemicals that drains industrial effluents. The growing demand for readily available water, as well as the problem of polluted organic waste in reservoirs and streams, is a critical challenge for proper and sustainable development. Remediation has resulted in the need for an appropriate alternative to clear up the implications. Nanotechnology is an efficient and effective path to improve wastewater treatment/remediation. The effective surface properties and chemical activity of nanoparticles give them a better chance to remove or degrade the dye material from wastewater treatment. AgNPs (silver nanoparticles) are an efficient nanoparticle for the treatment of dye effluent that have been explored in many studies. The antimicrobial a...
Nanotechnology Reviews
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been extensively used in various industries; however, this is accompanied by several implications to humans and the environment. This review focuses on different aspects of AgNPs including the production and detection techniques, their fate, and dynamics in response to different environmental factors. In addition, this review illustrates the toxicity mechanism and the interaction of AgNPs with different matrices, such as aquatic environment, soil, crops, and humans. Reduction measures and future research are discussed.
2019
The production of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) has grown in last years due to their special physicochemical properties in respect to their bulk counterparts, derived from their small size (1-100 nm). Among the existing ENMs, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in commercial products due to their antibacterial properties. This fact favours their release in the environment, increasing the concern about the hazards that these emerging contaminants might pose for living organisms and human health. Therefore, to understand their effects, it is of paramount importance their characterisation and quantification in environmental and biological samples by adequate analytical methodologies. The research presented in this thesis focuses on the application and improvement of existing analytical methodologies and on the development of new analytical procedures to acquire information about their mobility and bioavailability in soils and also their accumulation, biotransformation and to...
Biomolecules
This research presents a novel and environmentally friendly approach for the synthesis of multifunctional nanobiocomposites for the efficient removal of toxic heavy metal and dye, as well as the disinfection of wastewater microorganisms. The nanobiocomposites (KAC-CS-AgNPs) were prepared by incorporating photochemically generated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) within a chitosan (CS)-modified, high-surface-area activated carbon derived from kenaf (KAC), using a unique self-activation method. The even distribution of AgNPs was visible in the scanning electron microscopy images and a Fourier transform infra red study demonstrated major absorption peaks. The experimental results revealed that KA-CS-AgNPs exhibited exceptional adsorption efficiency for copper (Cu2+), lead (Pb2+), and Congo Red dye (CR), and showed potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The maximum adsorption capacity (mg g−1) of KAC-CS-AgNPs was 71.5 for Cu2+, 72.3 for Pb2+, and 7...
Water, 2021
Recent developments in nanoscience have appreciably modified how diseases are prevented, diagnosed, and treated. Metal nanoparticles, specifically silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), are widely used in bioscience. From time to time, various synthetic methods for the synthesis of AgNPs are reported, i.e., physical, chemical, and photochemical ones. However, among these, most are expensive and not eco-friendly. The physicochemical parameters such as temperature, use of a dispersing agent, surfactant, and others greatly influence the quality and quantity of the synthesized NPs and ultimately affect the material’s properties. Scientists worldwide are trying to synthesize NPs and are devising methods that are easy to apply, eco-friendly, and economical. Among such strategies is the biogenic method, where plants are used as the source of reducing and capping agents. In this review, we intend to debate different strategies of AgNP synthesis. Although, different preparation strategies are in use ...
Emerging Contaminant or an Old Toxin in Disguise? Silver Nanoparticle Impacts on Ecosystems
Environmental Science & Technology, 2014
The use of antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in consumer-products is rising. Much of these AgNPs are expected to enter the wastewater stream, with up to 10% of that eventually released as effluent into aquatic ecosystems with unknown ecological consequences. We examined AgNP impacts on aquatic ecosystems by comparing the effects of two AgNP sizes (12 and 49 nm) to ionic silver (Ag + ; added as AgNO 3), a historically problematic contaminant with known impacts. Using 19 wetland mesocosms, we added Ag to the 360 L aquatic compartment to reach 2.5 mg Ag L −1. Silver treatments and two coating controls were done in triplicate, and compared to four replicate controls. All three silver treatments were toxic to aquatic plants, leading to a significant release of dissolved organic carbon and chloride following exposure. Simultaneously, dissolved methane concentrations increased forty-fold relative to controls in all three Ag treatments. Despite dramatic toxicity differences observed in lab studies for these three forms of Ag, our results show surprising convergence in the direction, magnitude, and duration of ecosystem-scale impacts for all Ag treatments. Our results suggest that all forms of Ag changed solute chemistry driving transformations of Ag which then altered Ag impacts.
Utilization of silver nanoparticles as chlorine-free biocide for water treatment
2000
The objective of this research is to elucidate the main disinfectant mechanism of nanosilver and to evaluate its interaction with the biological, chemical and physical components of natural waters. Silver nanoparticles interact differently with different dissolved and particulate compounds commonly present in drinking water depending upon the disinfectant mechanism. Our preliminary results show that concentrations of silver nanoparticles below 5
Effects of Dissolved Silver and Silver Nanoparticle on Soil Microorganisms
Journal of Soil and Water Sciences, 2017
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most commonly used man-made nanomaterial in consumer products. They are merged into a vast collection of products due to their particular broad-spectrum anti-microbial action. On the other hand, their anti-bacterial properties may pose a significant environmental risk. This study was undertaken to assess whether the risk that AgNPs and dissolved Ag pose to soil microorganisms gained from nano-or dissolved-silver forms. The antimicrobial effect of green manufactured AgNPs (46.2±23.2 nm) and Ag + (as AgNO 3) on soil microbes were studied using disc diffusion assay. Soil microbial growth was assessed by the measurement of inhibitory zone area (mm 2) as a function of different AgNPs and AgNO 3 concentrations, 0.00, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 mgl-1. The results of antimicrobial effect of AgNPs showed 10 fold of magnitude comparing with Ag + at lower concentrations (250 mgl-1). The theoretical predicted unity of inhibition zone ratio for AgNPs/Ag ions implies that AgNPs equates to about 5 times antimicrobial effects of Ag +. Although the current results confirm that Ag antimicrobial effect is a nano-specific effect, different bacteria isolated from different soils should be used to explore their physico-chemical properties in mitigating AgNPs toxicity effects.