The use of nanomaterials for water splitting process: a safe solution or a risk for the environment?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48797/sl.2023.43Keywords:
PosterAbstract
Background: Humanity is facing challenges in a modern world of rapidly increasing demand for energy sources. The production of clean energy systems is a major challenge, prompting an urgent need to implement new sustainable technologies that can meet global society’s needs. The energy solutions rely on renewable sources, cost-efficient and environmentally friendly such as hydrogen production by water splitting [1]. Efforts have been made to explore catalysts based on transition metal compounds - tungsten oxide (W) [2,3] and recently through nanotechnology with the application of tungsten nanoparticles (WNP) [4]. The use of W compounds results in environmental exposure to this metal. Ecotoxicological studies are limited, and a detailed investigation is crucial to evaluate the effect of this metal on the environment. Objectives: The aim of this work is to perform a toxicological comparative study of commercial W (Alfa Aesar) and WNP oxide (Sigma-Aldrich) exposure on terrestrial species (monocotyledonous Zea mays and Avena sativa, invertebrates (Folsomia candida and Eisenia fetida) and aquatic species (Aiivibrio fischeri, Raphidocelis subcapitata, Lemna minor, Daphnia magna, and Thamos platyrus). Methods: The tests with terrestrial species were performed with natural regosol (Estarreja, Aveiro, North of Portugal - 40°45′17″ N, 8°34′9″ W) contaminated with each one of the compounds (0 to 1000 mg W kgsoil-1), tested individually. Results: For aquatic species, the effects of both compounds were tested at concentrations from 0 to 200 mg W L-1. The results demonstrated that W negatively affected the fresh and dry biomass of plant species and the reproductive output of F. candida. All aquatic species were significantly affected after exposure to W, except D. magna. A reduction of R. subcapitata and L. minor growth rate, an inhibition of bioluminescence of A. fischeri and of T. platyrus ability to feed were also observed. Conclusions: Environmental safety studies showed risks for all species exposed to W and WNP.
References
1. Chen, X., Yang, J., Cao, Y., Kong, L., & Huang, J. Design Principles for Tungsten Oxide Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting. Chem Electro Chem, 2021, 8 (23), 4427–4440.
2. Cheng, J., & Deming, T. J. Synthesis of polypeptides by ROP of NCAs. Peptide-Based Materials, 2011, 310 1–26.
3. Kollender, J. P., Mardare, A. I., & Hassel, A. W. Localized Photoelectrochemistry on a Tungsten Oxide–Iron Oxide Thin Film Material Library. ACS Combinatorial Science, 2013, 15 (12), 601–608.
4. Sengul, A. B., & Asmatulu, E. Toxicity of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles: a review. In Environmental Chemistry Letters 2020, 18, (5) 1659–1683.
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Copyright (c) 2023 C. Ganilho, A.M. Cordeiro, T. Andreani, C. M. Pereira, R. Pereira
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