Physicochemical properties and biodegradability of organically functionalized colloidal silica particles in aqueous environment

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

Engineered sub-micron particles are being used in many technical applications, leading to an increasing introduction into the aquatic environment. Only a few studies have dealt with the biodegradability of non-functionalized organic particles. In fact the knowledge of organically surface functionalized colloids is nearly non-existent. We have investigated the biodegradability of organically surface functionalized silica (SiO2) particles bearing technically relevant groups such as amino-, carboxyl-, benzyl-, sulfonate-, chloro-, and phosphatoethyl-derivatized alkyls. Essential physicochemical properties including zeta potential, isoelectric point, morphology, surface area, porosity, surface density, and elemental composition of the particles were investigated, followed by biodegradability testing using the Closed Bottle Test (OECD 301D). None of the particles met the biodegradability threshold value of 60%. Only a slight biodegradation was revealed for SiO2-Benzyl (13.7±6.7%) and for SiO2-3-Chlorpropane (10.8±1.5%). For the other particles biodegradability was below the normal background fluctuation of 5%. The results were different of those obtained from structurally similar chemicals not being functionalized on the particle surface and from general rules of structure-biodegradation prediction of organic molecules. Therefore, our results suggest that the attachment of the organic groups heavily reduces their biodegradability, increases their residence time and possibility for adverse effects to environmental species.
Original languageEnglish
JournalChemosphere
Volume99
Pages (from-to)96-101
Number of pages6
ISSN0045-6535
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 03.2014

    Research areas

  • Chemistry - Biodegradation, Colloidal silica particles, Environmental fate, Organic functionalization, Physicochemical characteristics

Recently viewed

Publications

  1. Von Teams und Individuen - Zu (indirekten) Auswirkungen der Ökonomisierung auf Akteur:innen der stationären Kinder- und Jugendhilfe
  2. Freilandforschung im Unterricht - Erforschung ökologischer Grundprinzipien am Beispiel von Laufkäfern verschiedener Lebensräume
  3. Effects of human capital and long-term human resources development and utilization on employment growth of small-scale businesses
  4. Non-sterile fermentation of food waste with indigenous consortium and yeast – Effects on microbial community and product spectrum
  5. Reading instruction in 5th grade: teachers’ perspectives on promoting self-regulated reading in language and content area teaching
  6. Corporate Social Responsibility in Innovation: Insights from two Cases of Syngenta's Activities in Genetically Modified Organisms
  7. Going beyond efficiency: including altruistic motives in behavioral models for sustainability transitions to address sufficiency.
  8. Physicochemical properties and biodegradability of organically functionalized colloidal silica particles in aqueous environment
  9. Field measurement of ammonia emissions after nitrogen fertilization-A comparison between micrometeorological and chamber methods
  10. A Bayesian EAP-Based Nonlinear Extension of Croon and Van Veldhoven’s Model for Analyzing Data from Micro–Macro Multilevel Designs
  11. Variability in leaf traits reveals contrasting strategies between forest and grassland woody communities across southern Brazil
  12. Sources and pathways of biocides and their transformation products in urban storm water infrastructure of a 2 ha urban district
  13. Enrique Mejías García: Offenbach, compositor de zarzuelas. Madrid: ICCMU (Colección Música Hispana. Textos. Estudios n°24), 2022 (507 págs.)
  14. Leitlinien für einen armuts- und gendersensiblen Religionsunterricht. Reflexionshilfen zur Praxis inklusiver religiöser Bildung
  15. Zur curricularen Validität des BilWiss 2.0-Tests zur Erfassung des bildungswissenschaftlichen Wissens von (angehenden) Lehrkräften
  16. Integrative Entrepreneurshipforschung - Identifikation von Schnittstellen zwischen soziologischer und ökonomischer Perspektive
  17. Distribution and community structure of araneocoenoses (Araneae) along an altitudinal gradient on Kozuf Mountain (North Macedonia)
  18. Science-Fiction, spekulativer Feminismus und strafkritische Fabulation. Strafabolitionismus mit Ursula K. Le Guins "The Dispossessed".
  19. Against and with the silence: Language, relations, and methods in qualitative research on pregnancy loss and perinatal bereavement
  20. A direct test of the similarity assumption — Focusing on differences as compared with similarities decreases automatic imitation
  21. Pädagogik in Zeiten der Katastrophe – Eine Solidaritätsveranstaltung mit Bildungsakteur:innen in der türkisch-syrischen Grenzregion
  22. Die Entwicklung des Emotionswissens und der behavioralen Selbstregulation bei Vorschulkindern mit und ohne Migrationshintergrund
  23. DaZKom - a Structure Model of Pre-service Teachers' Competency for Teaching German as a Second Language in the Mainstream Classroom
  24. The identification of up-And downstream industries using input-output tables and a firm-level application to minority shareholdings
  25. Molecular analyses and species distribution models indicate cryptic northern mountain refugia for a forestdwelling ground beetle
  26. Untersuchungen zur Entwicklung von Anpassungsstrategien an den Klimawandel für die Überflutungsflächen an der unteren Mittelelbe.
  27. Exploring the potential of using priority effects during ecological restoration to resist biological invasions in the neotropics
  28. Genetic diversity and population structure of the endangered insect species Carabus variolosus in its western distribution range
  29. J.N. Mohanty: Phenomenology. Between Essentialism and Transcendental Philosophy, Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University Press 1997
  30. Dynamik von Artenvielfalt und Artenzusammensetzung krautiger Gefäßpflanzen in gezäunten und ungezäunten Vergleichsflächenpaaren