High-aluminum-affinity silica is a nanoparticle that seeds secondary aluminosilicate formation.

Despite the importance and abundance of aluminosilicates throughout our natural surroundings, their formation at neutral pH is, surprisingly, a matter of considerable debate. From our experiments in dilute aluminum and silica containing solutions (pH ~ 7) we previously identified a silica polymer wi...

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Main Authors: Ravin Jugdaohsingh, Andy Brown, Martin Dietzel, Jonathan J Powell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0084397&type=printable
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author Ravin Jugdaohsingh
Andy Brown
Martin Dietzel
Jonathan J Powell
author_facet Ravin Jugdaohsingh
Andy Brown
Martin Dietzel
Jonathan J Powell
author_sort Ravin Jugdaohsingh
collection DOAJ
description Despite the importance and abundance of aluminosilicates throughout our natural surroundings, their formation at neutral pH is, surprisingly, a matter of considerable debate. From our experiments in dilute aluminum and silica containing solutions (pH ~ 7) we previously identified a silica polymer with an extraordinarily high affinity for aluminium ions (high-aluminum-affinity silica polymer, HSP). Here, further characterization shows that HSP is a colloid of approximately 2.4 nm in diameter with a mean specific surface area of about 1,000 m(2) g(-1) and it competes effectively with transferrin for Al(III) binding. Aluminum binding to HSP strongly inhibited its decomposition whilst the reaction rate constant for the formation of the β-silicomolybdic acid complex indicated a diameter between 3.6 and 4.1 nm for these aluminum-containing nanoparticles. Similarly, high resolution microscopic analysis of the air dried aluminum-containing silica colloid solution revealed 3.9 ± 1.3 nm sized crystalline Al-rich silica nanoparticles (ASP) with an estimated Al:Si ratio of between 2 and 3 which is close to the range of secondary aluminosilicates such as imogolite. Thus the high-aluminum-affinity silica polymer is a nanoparticle that seeds early aluminosilicate formation through highly competitive binding of Al(III) ions. In niche environments, especially in vivo, this may serve as an alternative mechanism to polyhydroxy Al(III) species binding monomeric silica to form early phase, non-toxic aluminosilicates.
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spelling doaj-art-164fea64c5164b108b550a285d4ae7fb2025-08-20T03:46:24ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-01812e8439710.1371/journal.pone.0084397High-aluminum-affinity silica is a nanoparticle that seeds secondary aluminosilicate formation.Ravin JugdaohsinghAndy BrownMartin DietzelJonathan J PowellDespite the importance and abundance of aluminosilicates throughout our natural surroundings, their formation at neutral pH is, surprisingly, a matter of considerable debate. From our experiments in dilute aluminum and silica containing solutions (pH ~ 7) we previously identified a silica polymer with an extraordinarily high affinity for aluminium ions (high-aluminum-affinity silica polymer, HSP). Here, further characterization shows that HSP is a colloid of approximately 2.4 nm in diameter with a mean specific surface area of about 1,000 m(2) g(-1) and it competes effectively with transferrin for Al(III) binding. Aluminum binding to HSP strongly inhibited its decomposition whilst the reaction rate constant for the formation of the β-silicomolybdic acid complex indicated a diameter between 3.6 and 4.1 nm for these aluminum-containing nanoparticles. Similarly, high resolution microscopic analysis of the air dried aluminum-containing silica colloid solution revealed 3.9 ± 1.3 nm sized crystalline Al-rich silica nanoparticles (ASP) with an estimated Al:Si ratio of between 2 and 3 which is close to the range of secondary aluminosilicates such as imogolite. Thus the high-aluminum-affinity silica polymer is a nanoparticle that seeds early aluminosilicate formation through highly competitive binding of Al(III) ions. In niche environments, especially in vivo, this may serve as an alternative mechanism to polyhydroxy Al(III) species binding monomeric silica to form early phase, non-toxic aluminosilicates.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0084397&type=printable
spellingShingle Ravin Jugdaohsingh
Andy Brown
Martin Dietzel
Jonathan J Powell
High-aluminum-affinity silica is a nanoparticle that seeds secondary aluminosilicate formation.
PLoS ONE
title High-aluminum-affinity silica is a nanoparticle that seeds secondary aluminosilicate formation.
title_full High-aluminum-affinity silica is a nanoparticle that seeds secondary aluminosilicate formation.
title_fullStr High-aluminum-affinity silica is a nanoparticle that seeds secondary aluminosilicate formation.
title_full_unstemmed High-aluminum-affinity silica is a nanoparticle that seeds secondary aluminosilicate formation.
title_short High-aluminum-affinity silica is a nanoparticle that seeds secondary aluminosilicate formation.
title_sort high aluminum affinity silica is a nanoparticle that seeds secondary aluminosilicate formation
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0084397&type=printable
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