Silver nanoparticle dissolution in the presence of ligands and of hydrogen peroxide

Dissolution of silver nanoparticles (AgNP with carbonate or citrate coating, total Ag 1-5 μM) was examined in the presence of the ligands cysteine, chloride and fulvic acids and of the oxidant hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at low concentrations at pH 7.5. Dissolved Ag was separated from AgNP by ultrafiltration. Cysteine in the concentration range 0.2-5 μM resulted in an initial increase of dissolved Ag within few hours. Chloride (up to 0.1 mM) and fulvic acids (up to 15 mg L(-1)) had little effect on the dissolution of AgNP within hours to days. In contrast, very rapid dissolution within 1-2 h of both carbonate and citrate coated AgNP was observed in the presence of H2O2 in the concentration range 0.1-10 μM, under dark or light conditions. The high efficiency of H2O2 in dissolving AgNP is likely to be of importance in toxic effects of AgNP to algae, as H2O2 is produced and released into solution by algae.