Deposition of protein-coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes on oxide surfaces and the retention in a silicon micromodel

Abstract The aggregation, deposition and porous retention of bovine serum albumin treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (BSA-MWCNTs) are investigated using dynamic light scattering (DLS), quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) and 2-dimensional silicon micromodel, respectively. The aggregation of BSA-MWCNTs is consistent with Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory. The critical coagulation concentration (CCC) is 175 m M NaCl and 2.7 m M CaCl 2 , suggesting that Ca 2+ causes stronger aggregation. The BSA-MWCNT deposition on SiO 2 surface is unfavorable with critical deposition concentration (CDC) of 100 m M in NaCl and 0.9 m M in CaCl 2 . The deposition on the Al 2 O 3 surface is favorable. Deposition rate is dominated by electrostatic forces at low ionic strength (IS), but electrostatic interaction is eliminated when IS is above CDC. Therefore the deposition rate on SiO 2 or Al 2 O 3 surface starts decreasing at the CDC point due to the reduced particle diffusion. In micromodel, the amount and position of attached BSA-MWCNTs in pore space can be observed by a microscope. The retention attachment efficiency increases at higher IS. The suspended BSA-MWCNTs approach to the collector through either diffusion or interception. The attached BSA-MWCNTs narrow the pore space and then clog the pore throats. The straining process happens on the clogged pore throats.