Environmental Effects Of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Inside A Model Colon

1
Stephanie Lara 1 , Travis Waller 2 , Jacob Lanphere 1 , Sharon Walker 2 1 Natural Mathematics and Science Department, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA, USA 2 Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA Abstract Methods Discussion Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) NPs have been introduced to the environment by companies through products such as sunscreen, clothing, and as scratch resistant protective layers to some hard surfaces in technology. We investigated a model colon and model septic tank to determine if these TiO 2 NPs can be used to enhance water treatment systems for the improvement of water quality. A model colon and model septic tank will be investigated in order to look at the effects and changes to the microbial community due to the addition of TiO 2 . Both food and industrial grades of TiO 2 NPs were added to the model colon and septic to determine if they produce a similar impact on microbial community of these two environments. To run thorough diagnostics, the NPs will be run through the model colon seeded with a human microbial community to monitor interactions between with the gut bacteria and the introduced TiO 2 . At this time, baseline experiments have been conducted without the presence of TiO 2 to understand the normal operating conditions of the model human colon and septic systems in which changes may occur after the introduction of the TiO 2 NPs. Better understanding of these NPs will result after the TiO 2 NPs pass through the colon and enter the model septic tank where biological, chemical, and physical conditions may then further alter the NPs impacting the overall quality of the septic tank effluent. Overview Future Work Acknowledgments Characterization of food and industrial grade TiO 2 within the environment Further investigation of the biofilm (ICP-MS), septic effluent, and sludge and the dissolution of TiO 2 Further examination of colon and septic impacts from TiO 2 with UV-light in septic system in addition to regular procedures from the colon system I would like to thank Dr. Walker for helping us throughout the program. I would also like to express my appreciation to Dr. Lanphere for his mentoring and support. I would like to express my grattitude toward Travis Waller for his guidance and help throughout this process. Finally, I would like to thank the Building Bridges program funded by the US Department of Agriculture for supporting my summer internship. I would also like to thank Maria Franco-Aguilar for her leadership and support throughout the Building Bridges program. M T W Th F 0.00E+000 3.00E+009 6.00E+009 9.00E+009 1.20E+010 1.50E+010 1.80E+010 2.10E+010 Baseline P25 FG Cell Concentration (Bacteria/mL) Day Figure 6: Weekly averages of bacteria cell concentration in relation to baseline, P25, and FG TiO 2 Nanoparticle conditions. M T W Th F 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 Baseline P25 FG pH Day Figure 7: Weekly averages of pH in relation to the baseline, P25, and FG TiO 2 Nanoparticle conditions. M T W Th F -28 -26 -24 -22 -20 -18 -16 Baseline P25 FG Zeta Potential (mV) Day Figure 5: Average Zeta Potential values are shown for food grade (FG) and P25 TiO 2 NPs over a five day period. Environmental Effects Of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Inside A Model Colon M T W Th F 4 5 6 7 Baseline P25 FG Conductivity (mS/cm) Day Figure 8: Weekly averages of conductivity in relation to the baseline, P25, and FG TiO 2 Nanoparticle conditions As a result of the increased applications of nanotechnology, TiO 2 has been introduced through food and different consumer products. To understand the characteristics of a microbial community and TiO 2 , interactions were monitored with an established baseline community. The reason were to analyze (1) characterization; (2) septic tank water quality measurements; and changes caused by TiO 2 particles where the systems will be identified. This research was performed to better understand and potentially enhance water treatment methods within septic tank systems. Results to Date To create a consistent human fecal microbial community, a model colon was created that feeds into the model septic tank. The baseline reacting factor for the microbial community will be established with the two different types of NPs (1) industrial Nano TiO 2 (P25) and (2) food grade TiO 2 (FG) which will be independently added to the colon. Each of these trials will run at a period of three weeks without particles to attain a solid baseline data, and once done so we will add the nanomaterials and run those for three weeks as well. The colon was fed three times a day to mimic what would be regular human bowel movements. A pump circulates the Colon Media that consists of the donated fecal matter supplying the microbial community and other materials that may be found in the colon during the transfer of bacteria from the colon to the septic system. The pump circulates the colon media through a glass tube that consists of dialysis tubing inside in order for the colon media to be semi-permeable as it would be inside the human body. Different tests were ran throughout the week, Monday-Friday to monitor the bacterial activity before the NPs get introduced. Bacteria Characterization in Model Septic •Nano TiO 2 causes an increase in hydrophobicity and positive cell surface charge (EPM) values. Electrophoretic Mobility (EPM): "The electrophoretic mobility is the rate of migration of the substance measured in cm/s under the influence of a potential gradient of 1 V/cm, and is expressed in cm2·V-1·s-1" (The International Pharmacopoeia. 2006). •Each TiO 2 NP causes specific, rather than general effects to the septic system, where baseline characteristics may indicate a change due to the addition of TiO 2 NPs •TiO 2 NPs may cause disruption in septic tank function during specific weeks, potentially allowing only partial waste treatment like in a previous study where Copper Nanoparticles (CuNPs) were used and similar characteristics were being shown by the NPs (Lin, Sijie, Alicia A. Taylor, Zhaoxia Ji, Chong Hyun Chang, Nichola M. Kinsinger, William Ueng, Sharon L. Walker, and André E. Nel, 2015) Figure 4: Estimated global mass flow of ENMs (in metric tons/year) from production to disposal or release, considering high production and release estimates as of 2010. (Keller and Lazareva, 2013) Figure 1: Micron (software) and hemocytometer for counting bacteria cell concentrations Figure 2: The model colon reactor used in this study Figure 3: A human model of the colon

Transcript of Environmental Effects Of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Inside A Model Colon

Page 1: Environmental Effects Of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Inside A Model Colon

Stephanie Lara1, Travis Waller2, Jacob Lanphere1, Sharon Walker2

1 Natural Mathematics and Science Department, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA, USA2 Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA

Abstract

Methods Discussion

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) NPs have been introduced to the environment by companies through products such as sunscreen, clothing, and as scratch resistant protective layers to some hard surfaces in technology. We investigated a model colon and model septic tank to determine if these TiO2 NPs can be used to enhance water treatment systems for the improvement of water quality. A model colon and model septic tank will be investigated in order to look at the effects and changes to the microbial community due to the addition of TiO 2. Both food and industrial grades of TiO2 NPs were added to the model colon and septic to determine if they produce a similar impact on microbial community of these two environments. To run thorough diagnostics, the NPs will be run through the model colon seeded with a human microbial community to monitor interactions between with the gut bacteria and the introduced TiO 2 . At this time, baseline experiments have been conducted without the presence of TiO2 to understand the normal operating conditions of the model human colon and septic systems in which changes may occur after the introduction of the TiO2 NPs. Better understanding of these NPs will result after the TiO2 NPs pass through the colon and enter the model septic tank where biological, chemical, and physical conditions may then further alter the NPs impacting the overall quality of the septic tank effluent.

Overview

Future Work

Acknowledgments

• Characterization of food and industrial grade TiO2 within the environment

• Further investigation of the biofilm (ICP-MS), septic effluent, and sludge and the dissolution of TiO2

• Further examination of colon and septic impacts from TiO2 with UV-light in septic system in addition to regular procedures from the colon system

I would like to thank Dr. Walker for helping us throughout the program. I would also like to express my appreciation to Dr. Lanphere for his mentoring and support. I would like to express my grattitude toward Travis Waller for his guidance and help throughout this process. Finally, I would like to thank the Building Bridges program funded by the US Department of Agriculture for supporting my summer internship. I would also like to thank Maria Franco-Aguilar for her leadership and support throughout the Building Bridges program.

M T W Th F0.00E+000

3.00E+009

6.00E+009

9.00E+009

1.20E+010

1.50E+010

1.80E+010

2.10E+010 Baseline P25 FG

Ce

ll C

on

cen

tra

tio

n (

Ba

cte

ria/

mL

)

Day

Figure 6: Weekly averages of bacteria cell concentration in relation to baseline,

P25, and FG TiO2 Nanoparticle conditions.

M T W Th F

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

6.5

7.0 Baseline P25 FG

pH

DayFigure 7: Weekly averages of pH in relation to the baseline, P25, and FG

TiO2 Nanoparticle conditions.

M T W Th F

-28

-26

-24

-22

-20

-18

-16

Baseline P25 FG

Ze

ta P

ote

nti

al (

mV

)

Day

Figure 5: Average Zeta Potential values are shown for food grade (FG) and P25

TiO2 NPs over a five day period.

Environmental Effects Of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Inside A Model Colon

M T W Th F4

5

6

7

Baseline P25 FG

Co

nd

uct

ivit

y (

mS

/cm

)

DayFigure 8: Weekly averages of

conductivity in relation to the baseline, P25, and FG TiO2 Nanoparticle

conditions

As a result of the increased applications of nanotechnology, TiO2 has been introduced through food and different consumer products. To understand the characteristics of a microbial community and TiO2, interactions were monitored with an established baseline community. The reason were to analyze (1) characterization; (2) septic tank water quality measurements; and changes caused by TiO2 particles where the systems will be identified. This research was performed to better understand and potentially enhance water treatment methods within septic tank systems.

Results to Date

To create a consistent human fecal microbial community, a model colon was created that feeds into the model septic tank. The baseline reacting factor for the microbial community will be established with the two different types of NPs (1) industrial Nano TiO2 (P25) and (2) food grade TiO2 (FG) which will be independently added to the colon. Each of these trials will run at a period of three weeks without particles to attain a solid baseline data, and once done so we will add the nanomaterials and run those for three weeks as well.The colon was fed three times a day to mimic what would be regular human bowel movements. A pump circulates the Colon Media that consists of the donated fecal matter supplying the microbial community and other materials that may be found in the colon during the transfer of bacteria from the colon to the septic system. The pump circulates the colon media through a glass tube that consists of dialysis tubing inside in order for the colon media to be semi-permeable as it would be inside the human body. Different tests were ran throughout the week, Monday-Friday to monitor the bacterial activity before the NPs get introduced.

Bacteria Characterization in Model Septic•Nano TiO2 causes an increase in hydrophobicity and positive cell surface charge (EPM) values.•Electrophoretic Mobility (EPM): "The electrophoretic mobility is the rate of migration of the substance measured in cm/s under the influence of a potential gradient of 1 V/cm, and is expressed in cm2·V-1·s-1" (The International Pharmacopoeia. 2006).•Each TiO2 NP causes specific, rather than general effects to the septic system, where baseline characteristics may indicate a change due to the addition of TiO2 NPs•TiO2 NPs may cause disruption in septic tank function during specific weeks, potentially allowing only partial waste treatment like in a previous study where Copper Nanoparticles (CuNPs) were used and similar characteristics were being shown by the NPs (Lin, Sijie, Alicia A. Taylor, Zhaoxia Ji, Chong Hyun Chang, Nichola M. Kinsinger, William Ueng, Sharon L. Walker, and André E. Nel, 2015)

Figure 4: Estimated global mass flow of ENMs (in metric tons/year) from production to disposal or release, considering high production and release

estimates as of 2010. (Keller and Lazareva, 2013)Figure 1: Micron (software) and hemocytometer for

counting bacteria cell concentrationsFigure 2: The model colon reactor used in this study Figure 3: A human model of the colon