A meta-analysis of nanomaterial and nanoplastic fate in small column experiments and implications for fate in soils

values appeared to some extent operationally defined as they correlate with the experimental column flow rate and in some cases with the particle concentration used in the feedstock. Particle aggregation occurred more as the feedstock concentration increased, but this only had a limited effect on subsequent column retention. In homogeneous sandy media, attachment of particles obeyed well-known trends indicative of non-favourable electrostatic interactions, whereas interactions in non-sandy media were dominated by favourable attractions to positively charged sites on clay edges and/or oxides as well as hydrophobic interactions with soil organic matter. The results may help to prioritize further research such as the currently unclear role of hydrophobic interactions in the fate of particles in porous media and identify the most important transport processes in more complex field situations.