Nanomaterials are increasingly used in consumer products due to their unique properties. Silver nanomaterials (AgNMs) are used for their antimicrobial properties, and can be found in biomedical devices and materials. Increased use of AgNMs in consumer goods will result in increased disposal and entrance into the environment. However, more work needs to be performed to determine the chemical properties of AgNM-containing consumer textiles throughout their lifecycle. The aim of this work is to evaluate the chemical and physical transformations that AgNM-containing textiles undergo during modeled environmental exposure, using a commercially available AgNM-containing wound dressing and controls prepared in-house. To model their disposal, textiles were exposed to synthetic freshwater or artificial landfill leachate before and after simulating real world use (e.g. sweat or wound fluid pretreatment). Textiles were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively using several analytical techniques including scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, UV-visible spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering. A better understanding of the chemical and physical transformation of AgNMs in consumer products will help manufacturers and regulators to make more informed decisions on product design and use.

Chemical transformation of silver-nanomaterial containing textiles after disposal

256th National Meeting (2018)

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