ez6b00252_si_001.pdf (1.17 MB)
In Situ Measurement of CuO and Cu(OH)2 Nanoparticle Dissolution Rates in Quiescent Freshwater Mesocosms
journal contribution
posted on 2016-08-19, 00:00 authored by Brian
E. Vencalek, Stephanie N. Laughton, Eleanor Spielman-Sun, Sonia M. Rodrigues, Jason M. Unrine, Gregory V. Lowry, Kelvin B. GregoryRecent
studies have characterized copper-based nanoparticles (CBNPs)
as relatively insoluble, raising potential persistence, accumulation,
and toxicological concerns about their long-term application as agricultural
pesticides. The dissolution rates of two CBNPs were measured in natural
and artificial waters under both saturated and unsaturated conditions
with respect to CuO(s) (total Cu, <1 mg/kg). Kocide
3000, an agricultural pesticide formulation with nanoscale Cu(OH)2 particles, rapidly dissolved with an experimental half-life
of <8 h in natural water. Copper oxide nanoparticles were longer-lived,
with an experimental half-life of 73 h in natural water. In contrast
to prior reports of CuONP dissolution, our results suggest that even
in moderately alkaline waters, CuO and Cu(OH)2 NPs may
persist as particles for days to weeks under quiescent conditions
in a freshwater environment.
