Researchers at CNPEM (National Center for Research in Energy and Materials) conducted the first advanced molecular analysis of the interactions between copper nanoparticles and tropical soils. The study revealed that the chemical characteristics of each soil type can significantly alter the behavior of these structures, with the potential to increase the precision and efficiency of agricultural practices. Based on the results, they developed a novel technology that uses copper nanoparticles coated with organic matter to increase their adhesion to leaves, making nano-agrochemicals more efficient in precision agriculture. The innovation is in the patenting process and will be offered for partnerships with companies. Metal oxide nanoparticles are increasingly being used for innovation in agricultural products, fertilizers, pesticides, sensors, and environmental technologies. However, there is still little information on how they behave in tropical soils. The research evaluated different types of soils, especially those from São Paulo (latosols), the Amazon region (Amazonian black earth), and latosols conditioned with biochar (produced from sugarcane bagasse). Laís Fregolente, first author of the article on the research, explains that “the advances strengthen the integration between nanotechnology and agriculture, showing how the composition of soil organic matter influences the behavior of nanomaterials in the environment. This knowledge is fundamental to promoting the safe and sustainable use of nanomaterials in agriculture and guiding the development of technologies appropriate to the reality of each soil type,” she observes. According to CNPEM researcher Diego Martinez, supervisor of the cover article recently published in the journal Environmental Science Nano, the behavior of nanoparticles varies extremely depending on the type of soil. “This work is the first to perform a detailed molecular characterization of the interaction of copper nanoparticles in tropical soils, showing how the surface of the particles is modified by soluble organic matter,” he assesses. “The same material, the same nanoparticle, will behave differently in the soils of São Paulo and the Amazon, or in soil conditioned with biochar, because the organic matter present in each environment completely modifies the surface and reactivity of these particles.” According to the researchers, understanding these interactions is essential to assess environmental impacts and develop safer applications for precision tropical agriculture. The research used advanced material characterization techniques such as synchrotron light from CNPEM, cryo-electron microscopy and hyperspectral microscopy, and molecular analyses by high-resolution mass spectrometry to investigate the transformations undergone by nanoparticles in contact with different types of Brazilian tropical soils. “When the nanoparticle comes into contact with the organic matter in the soil, it forms an organic layer on the surface, called a “molecular eco-corona,” which alters its behavior, mobility, and toxicity,” adds Martinez. The work also involved scientists from Brazilian and international institutions linked to the areas of nanotechnology, environmental chemistry, and soil science. Among the authors are researchers from São Paulo State University (Unesp), the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom), and Old Dominion University (United States). The research was supported by the Center for Molecular Engineering for Advanced Materials (CEMol-CEPID, FAPESP) and the National Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation in Nanotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture (INCT-NanoAgro, CNPq and CAPES).
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.