In recent years, there has been growing interest in silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) due to their antibacterial and antiviral properties.  An increase in AgNPs in aquatic environments may pose a risk to microbial communities and ultimately to ecosystems.   The present paper describes the potential for the direct formation of AgNPs in aquatic systems.  The formation of AgNPs by the reduction of Ag+ by humic acids (HAs) and fulvic acids (FAs) under different environmental conditions will be presented.   Formation rates of AgNPs increase with pH (6.0-9.0) and temperature (22-90 oC).  Types of HAs and FAs (aquatic versus sedimentary) greatly influence the formation of AgNPs.  The stability of formed AgNPs was studied at room temperature.  AgNPs formed via the interaction of ionic silver with HAs and FAs were stable for significant periods of time.  Results were interpreted in terms of a possible oxidation/reduction cycle of dissolution and reappearance of AgNPs in aquatic environments.

Formation and stability of silver nanoparticles in aquatic environments

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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