Tracking changes in rhodium nanoparticles in the environment, including their mobility and bioavailability in soil

J. Kowalska (1) , E. Biaduń (1) , Katarzyna Kińska (2) , M. Gniadek (1) , B. Krasnodębska-Ostręga (1)

1 University of Warsaw, Faculty of Chemistry
2 IPREM - Institut des sciences analytiques et de physico-chimie pour l'environnement et les materiaux

The goals of the undertaken studies included assessment of the mobility of Rh nanoparticles (Rh NPs) and ionic forms (Rh(III)) in soil, optimization of the digestion procedure of environmental samples containing Rh NPs, and comparison of Rh NPs and Rh(III) uptake and bioaccumulation by hydroponically cultivated plants. Mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP MS) was used to determine the total content of Rh in solutions obtained after the processes of digestion and extraction. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) supported the investigation of Rh NPs decomposition and proved the presence of uptaken nano forms in plant tissues. Adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) allowed to distinguish ionic and metallic forms of Rh, based on the fact that Rh NPs are electrochemically inactive. A two-step digestion procedure with H2SO4 and HNO3 was proposed for efficient decomposition of Rh NPs. Based on single extractions with selected extractants, it was found that independently of its chemical form Rh is substantially immobilized in soil. The mobility of Rh(III) and Rh NPs was below 38% and 0.02%, and the accumulation factor in leaves equaled 0.2 and 4.4, respectively.

Keywords: Voltammetry; Ultrasound extraction; Rhodium nanoparticles bioavailability; Rhodium mobility; Digestion

Domains: Material chemistry; Polymers; Theoretical and/or physical chemistry; Analytical chemistry

J. Kowalska, E. Biaduń, Katarzyna Kińska, M. Gniadek, B. Krasnodębska-Ostręga. Tracking changes in rhodium nanoparticles in the environment, including their mobility and bioavailability in soil. Science of the Total Environment, 2021, pp.151272. ⟨10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151272⟩. ⟨hal-03418872⟩