Research highlights: detecting, characterizing and quantifying the presence and impact of carbon nanomaterials in environmental systems

Abstract

Here, we highlight articles examining different aspects contributing to the fate and role of carbon nanomaterials in environmental systems by developing new insight through measurement methodologies or systematic approaches. The first study examined the role of dissolved organic matter on the colloidal stability of bare and functionalized fullerene and used tools that provide data on the change in size and structure of aggregates with changing media composition. The origin of the aggregates in aqueous media observed is further discussed from other computational and experimental work from other groups. Another study focuses on the development of new mass spectrometry methods for improved detection and quantification of these species in complex media, which provides methods to better assess current methods for detection and water processing. The last study examines the role of carbon nanomaterials in soils and sediments, which provides data on the roles different carbon nanomaterials have in the bioavailability of contaminants.