Characterization of mineral nanoparticles in dust and colloids

灰尘和胶体中矿物纳米颗粒的表征

• 批准号: 137979-2011
• 负责人: Jamieson, Heather
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=569299
• 关键词: Characterization; mineral; nanoparticles; dust; colloids

The objective of this environmental earth science research is to characterize tiny mineral particles which are transported as airborne dust and waterborne colloids. The emphasis will be on particles that contain potentially hazardous elements including arsenic and lead, with the aim of clarifying the risk to human and ecological health. There has been limited research on how these materials move in the environment. In terms of human health, direct ingestion or inhalation of tiny mineral particles can lead to negative health effects which depend on the chemical form of the metal in the dust particles. In terms of ecological impact, windblown dust may be an important mechanism of metal transport from a point source to surface water, and colloidal particles can move with groundwater and contribute to metal contamination. This research will combine two advanced analytical techniques, one that provides highly specific information about each particle, and one that counts the number of particles very quickly and sorts them by size, shape and chemical type. I will examine particles from mine waste, contaminated soils and colloid-bearing mine drainage to identify the mineral hosts and understand the associated risk. This research will allow us to answer questions such as: What proportion of the arsenic-hosting particles in a contaminated soil is comprised of the most soluble and toxic form of arsenic? What is the relative amount of windblown tailings dust that contains lead particles that dissolve easily in the human stomach? What fraction of metal moves in a colloidal form in mine drainage? The results will help assess risk and design better remediation plans at contaminated sites. Sources of these metal-rich particles are often associated with mining and mineral processing. There will be a particular emphasis on sites in the Canadian Arctic where dry winter conditions enhance dust mobility and mine sites are often near communities and water bodies.This research program will train 3 PhD, 4 MSc and 10 undergraduate students.

这项环境地球科学研究的目的是表征以空气灰尘和水性胶体形式传播的微小矿物颗粒。重点将放在含有砷和铅等潜在危险元素的颗粒上，目的是澄清对人类和生态健康的风险。关于这些材料如何在环境中移动的研究有限。就人类健康而言，直接摄入或吸入微小矿物颗粒可能会对健康产生负面影响，具体取决于灰尘颗粒中金属的化学形态。就生态影响而言，风吹尘埃可能是金属从点源迁移到地表水的重要机制，胶体颗粒可以随地下水移动并导致金属污染。 这项研究将结合两种先进的分析技术，一种可以提供有关每个颗粒的高度具体的信息，另一种可以非常快速地计算颗粒数量并按尺寸、形状和化学类型对它们进行分类。我将检查矿山废物、受污染土壤和含有胶体的矿山排水中的颗粒，以识别矿物主体并了解相关风险。 这项研究将使我们能够回答以下问题：受污染土壤中含砷颗粒中最易溶解且毒性最大的砷形式所占的比例是多少？风吹尾矿粉尘中含有容易溶解在人胃中的铅颗粒的相对量是多少？有多少金属在矿井排水中以胶体形式移动？结果将有助于评估污染场地的风险并设计更好的修复计划。 这些富含金属的颗粒的来源通常与采矿和矿物加工有关。 将特别关注加拿大北极地区的地点，那里干燥的冬季条件增强了灰尘的流动性，而且矿场通常靠近社区和水体。该研究项目将培训 3 名博士生、4 名硕士生和 10 名本科生。