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Aggregation kinetics of CeO2 nanoparticles in KCl and CaCl2 solutions: measurements and modeling

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Abstract

To characterize the environmental transport and health risks of CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs), it is important to understand their aggregation behavior. This study investigates the aggregation kinetics of CeO2 NPs in KCl and CaCl2 solutions using time-resolved dynamic light scattering (TR-DLS). The initial hydrodynamic radius of CeO2 NPs measured by DLS was approximately 95 nm. Attachment efficiencies were derived both from aggregation data and predictions based on the Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) theory. The deviations of the DLVO predictions were corrected by employing the extended DLVO (EDLVO) theory. The critical coagulation concentration (CCC) of CeO2 NPs at pH = 5.6 is approximately 34 mM for KCl and 9.5 mM for CaCl2. Furthermore, based on the EDLVO theory and the von Smoluchowski’s population balance equation, a model accounting for diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) kinetics was established. For the reaction-limited aggregation (RLA) kinetics, a model that takes fractal geometry into account was established. The models fitted the experimental data well and proved to be useful for predicting the aggregation kinetics of CeO2 NPs.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partially supported by the US Environmental Protection Agency Science to Achieve Results Program grant RD-83385601 and Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC)/ESH grant (425.025).

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  1. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA

    Kungang Li, Wen Zhang, Ying Huang & Yongsheng Chen

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  1. Kungang Li
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Li, K., Zhang, W., Huang, Y. et al. Aggregation kinetics of CeO2 nanoparticles in KCl and CaCl2 solutions: measurements and modeling. J Nanopart Res 13, 6483–6491 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-011-0548-z

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