Imogolites are inorganic alumino-silicate nanotubes that occur naturally in volcanic soils. It is possible to obtain these materials with a high level of purity with a simple sol-gel synthesis. Unfortunately, this synthesis protocol is associated with limited tube length and long reaction durations. We present novel synthesis routes that lead to longer tubes with a reaction time that is about 100 times more effective than the regular sol gel synthesis. The imogolite tubes are perfect candidates for toxicological and ecotoxicological testing. Here we show that the (eco)toxicity of imogolite is very dependent on the surface chemistry of the tubes (defects and impurities) rather than their lengths or aspect ratios, with surprisingly simple detoxifying options.

Imogolite nanotubes as model HARN: Synthesis strategies and toxicological assesment

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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