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Validation of a Sulfuric Acid Digestion Method for Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Quantification of TiO2 Nanoparticles

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Abstract

A consistent analytical method incorporating sulfuric acid (H2SO4) digestion and ICP-MS quantification has been developed for TiO2 quantification in biotic and abiotic environmentally relevant matrices. Sample digestion in H2SO4 at 110°C provided consistent results without using hydrofluoric acid or microwave digestion. Analysis of seven replicate samples for four matrices on each of 3 days produced Ti recoveries of 97% ± 2.5%, 91 % ± 4.0%, 94% ± 1.8%, and 73 % ± 2.6% (mean ± standard deviation) from water, fish tissue, periphyton, and sediment, respectively. The method demonstrated consistent performance in analysis of water collected over a 1 month.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Jing Liu for laboratory assistance in preparing equipment and digests. The authors would also thank the Baylor Mass Spectrometry Center and the Baylor Center for Microscopy and Imaging for the use of instrumentation.

Funding

Funding was provided by the C. Gus Glasscock, Jr. Endowed Fund for Excellence in Environmental Science, Baylor University, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under NSF Cooperative Agreement DBI-1266252, Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF or the EPA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97266, Waco, TX, 76798, USA

    Preston S. Watkins, Benjamin T. Castellon, Chiyen Tseng, Moncie V. Wright, Cole W. Matson & George P. Cobb

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  1. Preston S. Watkins
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  2. Benjamin T. Castellon
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  3. Chiyen Tseng
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  4. Moncie V. Wright
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  5. Cole W. Matson
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  6. George P. Cobb
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to George P. Cobb.

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Watkins, P.S., Castellon, B.T., Tseng, C. et al. Validation of a Sulfuric Acid Digestion Method for Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Quantification of TiO2 Nanoparticles. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 100, 809–814 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-018-2336-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-018-2336-2

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