The aim of this study is to assess the occurrence of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in land applied and incinerated biosolids and provide better understand their life cycle and environmental implications. High Resolution Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (HR-STEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) were used to identify and assess the occurrence and accumulation of titanium, zinc and silver based engineered nanomaterials at a biosolids application site near Austin, Texas.. The results confirmed presence of titanium based ENMs at depths reaching 1 m below the surface and with concentrations ranging between 2 and 5 mgTi/g dry soil. Although discrete silver and zinc ENMs could not be observed, the depth-concentration profiles of these elements suggested accumulation in the top 30 cm of soil.  The transformation of the ENMs were characterized during lab-scale incineration of the full-scale biosolids and lab-scale produced biosolids embedded with commercial products containing ENMs, and interpretation is ongoing of the completed test results.

Environmental releases of engineered nanomaterial resulting from biosolids disposal to land and air

244th National Meeting (2012)

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