Further study on particle size, stability, and complexation of silver nanoparticles under the composite effect of bovine serum protein and humic acid

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used due to their unique antibacterial properties and excellent photoelectric properties. Wastewater treatment plants form a pool of AgNPs due to the social cycle of wastewater. During biological treatment processes, the particle size and stability of AgNPs change. We studied the particle size changes and stability of silver nanoparticles in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and humic acid (HA). The experimental results indicated that silver nanoparticles can complex with the functional groups in BSA. For AgNP–BSA composites, as the BSA concentration increases, the size of the silver nanoparticles first decreases and then increases. AgNPs can combine with the amide, amino, and carboxyl groups in HA. As the concentration of HA increases, the particle size and large particle size distribution of AgNPs increase. This increasing trend is more obvious when the HA concentration is lower than 20 mg L⁻¹. When HA and BSA exist at the same time, HA will occupy the adsorption sites of BSA on the surface of AgNPs, and the AgNP–HA complex will dominate the system. This study aims to provide key operational control strategies for the process operation of wastewater treatment plants containing AgNPs and theoretical support for promoting water environment improvement and economic development such as tourism.