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The Key Role of Environmental Colloids/Nanoparticles for the Sustainability of Life

The Key Role of Environmental Colloids/Nanoparticles for the Sustainability of Life Nature, Role and Importance of Colloids This issue of Environmental Chemistry is publishing a Research Front on environmental nanoparticles, with a series of review and research papers on their characterization and properties. Environmental nanoparticles (or colloids) include inorganic particles and biopolymers in the size range of 1–1000 nm (Figs 1, 2 in ref. [ 1 ]). The study of colloids is essential both to increase our fundamental knowledge of their physical chemistry and to understand the functioning of environmental systems, where they play multiple key roles. Environmental colloids are small enough to allow them to behave in a similar manner to soluble compounds, but large enough to participate in additional very peculiar processes such as the transport of inorganic and organic, vital or detrimental compounds in aquatic systems due to their numerous binding sites. [ 2 , 3 ] In addition, they may influence nutrient bioavailability. [ 4 ] The relatively large size and variable conformation of the colloids enables them to aggregate with each other (Figs 6, 7 in ref. [ 1 ]), forming much larger structures. In a body of water (lake, ocean), the larger aggregates settle down and carry the sorbed chemicals to the sediments, http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Environmental Chemistry CSIRO Publishing

The Key Role of Environmental Colloids/Nanoparticles for the Sustainability of Life

Environmental Chemistry , Volume 3 (3) – Jul 10, 2006

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References (13)

Publisher
CSIRO Publishing
Copyright
CSIRO
ISSN
1448-2517
eISSN
1449-8979
DOI
10.1071/ENv3n3_ES
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Nature, Role and Importance of Colloids This issue of Environmental Chemistry is publishing a Research Front on environmental nanoparticles, with a series of review and research papers on their characterization and properties. Environmental nanoparticles (or colloids) include inorganic particles and biopolymers in the size range of 1–1000 nm (Figs 1, 2 in ref. [ 1 ]). The study of colloids is essential both to increase our fundamental knowledge of their physical chemistry and to understand the functioning of environmental systems, where they play multiple key roles. Environmental colloids are small enough to allow them to behave in a similar manner to soluble compounds, but large enough to participate in additional very peculiar processes such as the transport of inorganic and organic, vital or detrimental compounds in aquatic systems due to their numerous binding sites. [ 2 , 3 ] In addition, they may influence nutrient bioavailability. [ 4 ] The relatively large size and variable conformation of the colloids enables them to aggregate with each other (Figs 6, 7 in ref. [ 1 ]), forming much larger structures. In a body of water (lake, ocean), the larger aggregates settle down and carry the sorbed chemicals to the sediments,

Journal

Environmental ChemistryCSIRO Publishing

Published: Jul 10, 2006

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