Single-walled carbon nanotube behavior in representative mature leachate

Escalating production and subsequent incorporation of engineered nanomaterials in consumer products increases the likelihood of nanomaterials being discarded in landfills. Although direct measurement of particle disposal has not yet occurred, life cycle assessments suggest that over 50% of nanomaterials produced will eventually reside in landfills. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted to evaluate how organics (humic acid: 20–800 mg/L), ionic strength (100–400 mM NaCl), and pH (6–8) typical of mature leachates influence carbon nanotube surface charge, relative stability, and mobility through representative solid waste environments. Results from the batch experiments suggest that the presence of high molecular weight organics, such as humic acid, acts to stabilize carbon nanotubes present in leachate, even at high ionic strengths (>100 mM NaCl). These results also suggest that in mature landfill leachate, as long as humic acid is present, ionic strength (when represented as NaCl) will be a dominant factor influencing nanomaterial stability. Column experiment results indicate the carbon nanotubes may be mobile through solid waste, suggesting particle placement within landfills needs to be examined more closely.

► Nanomaterial-containing wastes are placed in MSW landfills.
► Little work evaluating nanomaterial behavior in solid waste has been conducted.
► Humic acid stabilizes carbon nanotubes in leachate, even at high ionic strengths.
► Carbon nanotubes may be mobile through solid waste.
► Nanomaterial placement within landfills needs to be examined more closely.