Detection of carbon nanotubes in environmental matrices using programmed thermal analysis.

ABSTRACT: Carbon nanotube (CNT) production is rapidly growing, and there is a need for robust analytical methods to quantify CNTs at environmentally relevant concentrations in complex organic matrices. Because physical and thermal properties vary among different types of CNTs, we studied 14 single-walled (SWCNTs) and multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs). Our aim was to apply a classic analytical air pollution method for separating organic (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) (thermal optical transmittance/reflectance, TOT/R) to environmental and biological matrices and CNTs. The TOT/R method required significant modification for this analysis, which required a better understanding of the thermal properties of CNTs. An evaluation of the thermal properties of CNTs revealed two classes that could be differentiated usin

SUBMITTER: Doudrick K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3465480 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature