Development of Microextraction-based Techniques for Quantification and Behaviour Characterization of Nanoparticles in Aquatic Environments

Abstract

The environmental levels of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) are increasing in the environment. Thus, monitoring for their presence is critical. Currently, there are few analytical techniques to characterize and quantify trace ENPs in environmental matrices including water. The work described in this thesis includes the development of microextraction-based techniques using Triton X-114 (TX-114) as a non-ionic surfactant and cyclohexane as a non-polar organic solvent for the species-selective separation, preconcentration, and determination of trace CuO, and Ag and TiO2 NPs, respectively, in water samples. A chemometric procedure, orthogonal array design (OAD) was applied to investigate the effects of co-varying environmental factors on the aggregation and dissolution of ZnO NPs. The role of water temperature on the behavior and fate of ZnO NPs was fully studied in synthetic freshwater samples with varying pH and hardness. The results of the present work provide new insights into the toxicity assessment of ENPs in natural waters.