Reliable nanomaterial classification of powders using the volume-specific surface area method

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• 作者：Wendel Wohlleben ; Johannes Mielke ; Alvise Bianchin…
• 关键词：Nanomaterial ; Classification ; Regulation ; VSSA ; Size measurement ; Particle size
• 刊名：Journal of Nanoparticle Research
• 出版年：2017
• 出版时间：February 2017
• 年：2017
• 卷：19
• 期：2
• 全文大小：3459KB
• 刊物类别：Chemistry and Materials Science
• 刊物主题：Nanotechnology; Inorganic Chemistry; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Physical Chemistry; Optics, Lasers, Photonics, Optical Devices;
• 出版者：Springer Netherlands
• ISSN：1572-896X
• 卷排序：19

文摘

The volume-specific surface area (VSSA) of a particulate material is one of two apparently very different metrics recommended by the European Commission for a definition of “nanomaterial” for regulatory purposes: specifically, the VSSA metric may classify nanomaterials and non-nanomaterials differently than the median size in number metrics, depending on the chemical composition, size, polydispersity, shape, porosity, and aggregation of the particles in the powder. Here we evaluate the extent of agreement between classification by electron microscopy (EM) and classification by VSSA on a large set of diverse particulate substances that represent all the anticipated challenges except mixtures of different substances. EM and VSSA are determined in multiple labs to assess also the level of reproducibility. Based on the results obtained on highly characterized benchmark materials from the NanoDefine EU FP7 project, we derive a tiered screening strategy for the purpose of implementing the definition of nanomaterials. We finally apply the screening strategy to further industrial materials, which were classified correctly and left only borderline cases for EM. On platelet-shaped nanomaterials, VSSA is essential to prevent false-negative classification by EM. On porous materials, approaches involving extended adsorption isotherms prevent false positive classification by VSSA. We find no false negatives by VSSA, neither in Tier 1 nor in Tier 2, despite real-world industrial polydispersity and diverse composition, shape, and coatings. The VSSA screening strategy is recommended for inclusion in a technical guidance for the implementation of the definition.