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Tracking changes in rhodium nanoparticles in the environment, including their mobility and bioavailability in soil
J Kowalska1, E Biaduń1, K Kińska2
1Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, ul. Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
The Science of the Total Environment
|October 31, 2021
Summary
Rhodium (Rh) nanoparticles and ionic forms show limited mobility in soil, regardless of their chemical state. Rhodium uptake and bioaccumulation in plants were investigated, revealing distinct accumulation factors.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Nanotechnology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Rhodium nanoparticles (Rh NPs) and ionic forms (Rh(III)) are emerging environmental contaminants.
- Understanding their environmental fate, particularly mobility and plant uptake, is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- Assess Rh NP and Rh(III) mobility in soil.
- Optimize digestion methods for Rh NP-containing samples.
- Compare Rh NP and Rh(III) uptake and bioaccumulation in plants.
Main Methods:
- Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for Rh quantification.
- Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for NP characterization and uptake visualization.
- Adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) to differentiate ionic and metallic Rh forms.
Main Results:
- A two-step acid digestion (H2SO4/HNO3) efficiently decomposed Rh NPs.
- Rhodium, in both ionic and nanoparticle forms, is significantly immobilized in soil (mobility < 38%).
- Plant accumulation factors for Rh(III) and Rh NPs in leaves were 0.2 and 4.4, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Rhodium's mobility in soil is low for both ionic and nanoparticle forms.
- Rh NPs exhibit a higher bioaccumulation potential in plant leaves compared to ionic Rh(III).
- Optimized analytical methods enable accurate assessment of Rh speciation and environmental behavior.
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