Challenges in evaluating the transport and fate of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) from nanocomposites include the lack of tools and methodologies available to adequately track their movement and position. In this work, we report: a) a new methodology to detect stable fluorescent-labeled nanoclay in polymer-clay nanocomposites after film manufacture and mass transport�migration testing, and b) a method to quantify nanoclays in solutions. For the detection of nanoclays, tetramethylrhodamine-5-maleimide (rhodamine) was covalently bonded to organically modified montmorillonite (o-MMT). After the labeled o-MMT was incorporated into a polypropylene matrix and nanocomposite films were extruded, the fluorescent labels were detectable with confocal laser scanning microscopy. Preliminary migration testing with rhodamine-labeled o-MMT showed that some nanoclay migrated from the polymer matrix into the solvent (i.e., ethanol). The proposed methodology has the potential to track o-MMT and other nanoclays in various polymer nanocomposite systems and detect nanoparticle migration into solvents or possibly other surrounding environments. This new methodology could also be used for tracking ENMs in biological systems. For the quantification of nanoclays, a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) unit was used to simultaneously conduct elemental analysis of Si and Al in different solutions. The detection limit of nanoclay in suspension was as low as 0.05 ppm based on Si and 0.02 ppm based on Al.

Labeling, detection, and quantification of engineered nanoparticles in solid, liquid, and solid-liquid interphases

245th National Meeting (2013)

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