In-situ Measurements on Suspended Nanoparticles with Visible Laser Light, Infrared Light and X-rays

The presence of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in the water cycle is a subject of discussion amongst scientists, producers of nanomaterials, environmentalists and politicians. At this stage the influence of ENPs on the environment is still minimum and there is also hardly any experience with measuring such artificial nanoparticles within the complex matrices of environmental samples. However, there is experience with measuring natural nanoparticles in environmental waters. An overview is given on measuring methods with the focus on in-situ methods. They are aimed at studying particle size, particle size distribution, electric charge or binding type of environmental contaminants on the nanoparticles. Examples of use are given for methods such as photon correlation spectroscopy, laser-induced breakdown detection, laser Doppler velocimetry, time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-rax absorption spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation. The examples show the general strategies of such measurements, indicate typical problems and difficulties and demonstrate how such difficulties can be overcome.