Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1039/c4en00043a
Title (Primary) The road to nowhere: equilibrium partition coefficients for nanoparticles
Author Praetorius, A.; Tufenkji, N.; Goss, K.-U.; Scheringer, M.; von der Kammer, F.; Elimelech, M.
Source Titel Environmental Science-Nano
Year 2014
Department AUC
Volume 1
Issue 4
Page From 317
Page To 323
Language englisch
UFZ wide themes RU3;
Abstract Adequate fate descriptors are crucial input parameters in models used to predict the behaviour and
transport of a contaminant in the environment and determine predicted environmental concentrations
for risk assessment. When new fate models are being developed for emerging contaminants, such as
engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), special care has to be applied in adjusting conventional approaches
and fate descriptors to a new set of substances. The aim of this paper is to clarify misconceptions about
the applicability of equilibrium partition coefficients, such as the octanol–water partition coefficient (Kow)
or the soil–water distribution coefficient (Kd), whose application in the context of ENP fate assessment is
frequently suggested despite lacking scientific justification. ENPs are present in the environment as
thermodynamically unstable suspensions and their behaviour must be represented by kinetically
controlled attachment and deposition processes as has been established by colloid science. Here, we
illustrate the underlying theories of equilibrium partitioning and kinetically controlled attachment and
discuss why the use of any coefficient based on equilibrium partitioning is inadequate for ENPs and can
lead to significant errors in ENP fate predictions and risk assessment.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=15043
Praetorius, A., Tufenkji, N., Goss, K.-U., Scheringer, M., von der Kammer, F., Elimelech, M. (2014):
The road to nowhere: equilibrium partition coefficients for nanoparticles
Environ. Sci.-Nano 1 (4), 317 - 323 10.1039/c4en00043a