Towards a molecular understanding of the water purification properties of Moringa seed proteins.

Seed extracts from Moringa oleifera are of wide interest for use in water purification where they can play an important role in flocculation; they also have potential as anti-microbial agents. Previous work has focused on the crude protein extract. Here we describe the detailed biophysical characterization of individual proteins from these seeds. The results provide new insights relating to the active compounds involved. One fraction, designated Mo-CBP3, has been characterized at a molecular level using a range of biochemical and biophysical techniques including liquid chromatography, X-ray diffraction, mass spectrometry, and neutron reflection. The interfacial behavior is of particular interest in considering water purification applications and interactions with both charged (e.g. silica) and uncharged (alumina) surfaces were studied. The reflection studies show that, in marked contrast to the crude extract, only a single layer of the purified Mo-CBP3 binds to a silica interface and that there is no binding to an alumina interface. These observations are consistent with the crystallographic structure of Mo-CBP3-4, which is one of the main isoforms of the Mo-CBP3 fraction. The results are put in context of previous studies of the properties of the crude extract. This work shows possible routes to development of separation processes that would be based on the specific properties of individual proteins.

Preparation, functionalization and characterization of rice husk silica for lipase immobilization via adsorption.

Silica has been extracted from rice husks via a simple hydrothermal process and functionalized with triethoxy(octyl)silane -OCTES (Octyl-SiO2) and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane - 3-APTES (Amino-SiO2), with the aim of using it as support to immobilize lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus (TLL) via adsorption. The supports have been characterized by particle size distribution and elemental analyses, XRD, TGA, SEM, AFM and N2 physisorption so as to confirm their functionalization. Effect of pH, temperature, initial protein loading and contact time on the adsorption process has been systematically evaluated. Maximum immobilized protein loading of 12.3 ± 0.1 mg/g for Amino-SiO2 (5 mM buffer sodium acetate at pH 4.0, 25 °C and initial protein loading of 20 mg/g) and 21.9 ± 0.1 mg/g for Octyl-SiO2 (5 mM buffer sodium acetate at pH 5.0, 25 °C and initial protein loading of 30 mg/g) was observed. However, these biocatalysts presented similar catalytic activity in olive oil emulsion hydrolysis (between 630 and 645 U/g). TLL adsorption was a spontaneous process involving physisorption. Experimental data on Octyl-SiO2 and Amino-SiO2 adsorption were well-fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model. It was also investigated whether these biocatalysts could synthesize cetyl esters via esterification reaction. Thus, it was found that cetyl stearate synthesis required 100-110 min of reaction time to attain maximum conversion percentage (around 94%). Ester productivity of immobilized TLL on Amino-SiO2 was 1.3-3.1 times higher than Octyl-SiO2.

Magnetically separable BiOBr/Fe3O4@SiO2 for visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of ibuprofen: Mechanistic investigation and prototype development.

The increasingly ubiquitous release of emerging refractory pollutants into water is a serious concern due to associated risks. In this study, mesoporous hierarchical BiOBr/Fe3O4@SiO2-a solvothermally synthesized visible-light-driven magnetic photocatalyst-not only exhibited fast kinetics (t1/2 = 8.7 min) in the photocatalytic degradation of ibuprofen in water but also achieved almost complete mineralization over a prolonged irradiation of 6 h. Various reactive species, including O2¯, OH, and H2O2, were detected, while the scavenging experiments revealed that eCB--mediated reactions and direct-hole oxidation are the major degradation routes. The magnetically recycled BiOBr/Fe3O4@SiO2 maintained ∼80% of its initial photocatalytic activity even after five consecutive cycles. The typically copresent wastewater constituents, including NOM and anions, inhibited the photocatalytic performance to varying extents, and hence necessitated an increase in the photocatalyst dosage to achieve complete ibuprofen degradation in real sewage. Based on the findings of batch experiments, the process was scaled up by developing a 5 L prototype photocatalytic reactor integrated with an electromagnetic separation unit. The results of prototype photocatalytic experiments were comparable to those of batch experiments, and an electromagnetic separation efficiency of ∼99% was achievable in 5 min.

Characterization and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of a Marine Sponge Biosilica.

Bone fractures characterize an important event in the medical healthcare, being related to traumas, aging, and diseases. In critical conditions, such as extensive bone loss and osteoporosis, the tissue restoration may be compromised and culminate in a non-union consolidation. In this context, the osteogenic properties of biomaterials with a natural origin have gained prominence. Particularly, marine sponges are promising organisms that can be exploited as biomaterials for bone grafts. Thus, the objectives of this study were to study the physicochemical and morphological properties of biosilica (BS) from sponges by using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared, X-ray diffraction (SEM, FTIR and XRD respectively), mineralization, and pH. In addition, tests on an osteoblast precursor cell line (MC3T3-E1) were performed to investigate its cytotoxicity and proliferation in presence of BS. Bioglass (BG) was used as gold standard material for comparison purposes. Sponge BS was obtained, and this fact was proven by SEM, FTIR, and XRD analysis. Calcium assay showed a progressive release of this ion from day 7 and a more balanced pH for BS was maintained compared to BG. Cytotoxicity assay indicated that BS had a positive influence on MC3T3-E1 cells viability and qRT-PCR showed that this material stimulated Runx2 and BMP4 gene expressions. Taken together, the results indicate a potential use of sponge biosilica for tissue engineering applications.

Lysozyme as a flocculant-inducing agent improving the silica removal from aqueous solutions - A turbidimetric study.

In this paper, the lysozyme (LSZ) adsorption impact on the silica suspension stability was established. In other words, the stabilization/destabilization mechanism of the SiO2/LSZ system was explained based on the adsorption, electrokinetic and stability measurement results. Lysozyme adsorbs on the silica surface in the whole pH range. This process contributes to the changes in silica surface charge and zeta potential values. The lysozyme addition influences the system stability too. At pH 7.6 and 9, a large decrease in the silica suspension stability was found. It is connected with the neutralization of solid negative charge by the positively charged macromolecules. As a result, large aggregates can be formed, which is highly desirable in the silica removal procedure.

Extraction of nanosilica from oil palm leaves and its application as support for lipase immobilization.

The study reports the preparation of a composite consisting of magnetite coated with nanosilica extracted from oil palm leaves (OPL) ash as nanosupports for immobilization of Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) and its application for the synthesis of butyl butyrate. Results of immobilization parameters showed that ∼ 80% of CRL (84.5 mg) initially offered was immobilized onto the surface of the nanosupports to yield a maximum protein loading and specific activity of 67.5 ± 0.72 mg/g and 320.8 ± 0.42 U/g of support, respectively. Surface topography, morphology as well as information on surface composition obtained by Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed that CRL was successfully immobilized onto the nanosupports, affirming its biocompatibility. Under optimal conditions (3.5 mg/mL protein loading, at 45 ℃, 3 h and molar ratio 2:1 (1-butanol:n-butyric acid) the CRL/Gl-A-SiO2-MNPs gave a maximum yield of 94 ± 0.24% butyl butyrate as compared to 84 ± 0.32% in the lyophilized CRL. CRL/Gl-A-SiO2-MNPs showed an extended operational stability, retaining 50% of its initial activity after 17 consecutive esterification cycles. The results indicated that OPL derived nanosilica coated on magnetite can potentially be employed as carrier for lipase immobilization in replacement of the non-renewable conventionalsilica sources.

Efficient prevention of nanomaterials transport in the porous media by treatment with polyelectrolytes.

Contamination of soil by engineered nanomaterials (ENM) is an emergent environmental problem that urges the development of robust treatment protocols to prevent ENM transport through soil. We developed a method for efficient entrapment and retention of ENM in solid porous media of quartz sand with grain size of 300-500 µm used as a simple model of soil and studied the transport properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, silica and gold nanoparticles through the sand-packed column by UV-vis and fluorescent spectroscopy. The treatment of ENM-contaminated porous media with a mixture of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, cationic poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and anionic poly(acrylic acid) sodium salt, dissolved in NaCl solution followed by dilution in the column results in strong electrostatic interaction between the polyelectrolytes and a formation of inter-polyelectrolyte complexes (IPEC) that induce flocculation of ENM and adsorption to the surface of sand. The method demonstrates excellent ENM entrapment efficiency (>90%) and high capacity of several grams of ENM per 1 g of polyelectrolytes. The IPEC network formed after the treatment also serves as an efficient protection barrier for newly added ENM contaminants. The method is universal for various types of ENM (carbon ENM, metal and oxide nanoparticles) and equally efficient for distilled water, tap water, or lake water eluents.

Rough and tough. How does silicic acid protect horsetail from fungal infection?

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) plants grew healthily for 10 weeks under both Si-deficient and Si-replete conditions. After 10 weeks, plants grown under Si-deficient conditions succumbed to fungal infection. We have used NanoSIMS and fluorescence microscopy to investigate silica deposition in the tissues of these plants. Horsetail grown under Si-deficient conditions did not deposit identifiable amounts of silica in their tissues. Plants grown under Si-replete conditions accumulated silica throughout their tissues and especially in the epidermis of the outer side of the leaf and the furrow region of the stem where it was continuous and often, as a double layer suggestive of a barrier function. We have previously shown, both in vivo (in horsetail and thale cress) and in vitro (using an undersaturated solution of Si(OH)4), that callose is a "catalyst" of plant silica deposition. Here we support this finding by comparing the deposition of silica to that of callose and by showing that they are co-localized. We propose the existence of a synergistic mechanical protection by callose and silica against pathogens in horsetail, whereby the induction of callose synthesis and deposition is the first, biochemical line of defence and callose-induced precipitation of silica is the second, adventitious mechanical barrier.

Associations of polymorphisms in the cytokine genes IL1ß (rs16944), IL6 (rs1800795), IL12b (rs3212227) and growth factor VEGFA (rs2010963) with anthracosilicosis in coal miners in Russia and related genotoxic effects.

Anthracosilicosis (AS), a prevalent form of pneumoconiosis among coal miners, results from the accumulation of carbon and silica in the lungs from inhaled coal dust. This study investigated genotoxic effects and certain cytokine genes polymorphic variants in Russian coal miners with АS. Peripheral leukocytes were sampled from 129 patients with AS confirmed by X-ray and tissue biopsy and from 164 asymptomatic coal miners. Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped in the extracted DNA samples: IL1ß T-511C (rs16944), IL6 C-174G (rs1800795), IL12b A1188C (rs3212227) and VEGFA C634G (rs2010963). Genotoxic effects were assessed by the analysis of chromosome aberrations in cultured peripheral lymphocytes. The mean frequency of chromatid-type aberrations and chromosome-type aberrations, namely, chromatid-type breaks and dicentric chromosomes, was found to be higher in AS patients [3.70 (95% confidence interval {CI}, 3.29-4.10) and 0.28 (95% CI, 0.17-0.38)] compared to the control group [2.41 (95% CI, 2.00-2.82) and 0.09 (95% CI, 0.03-0.15)], respectively. IL1ß gene T/T genotype (rs16944) was associated with AS [17.83% in AS patients against 4.35% in healthy donors, odds ratio = 4.77 (1.88-12.15), P < 0.01]. A significant increase in the level of certain chromosome interchanges among AS donors is of interest because such effects are typical for radiation damage and caused by acute oxidative stress. IL1ß T allele probably may be considered as an AS susceptibility factor among coal miners.

Surface-modified microbubbles (colloidal gas aphrons) for nanoparticle removal in a continuous bubble generation-flotation separation system.

The treatment of nanoparticle (NP) polluted aqueous suspensions by flotation can be problematic due to the low probability of collision between particles and bubbles. To overcome this limitation, the present work focuses on developing an enhanced flotation technique using the surface-functionalized microbubbles - colloidal gas aphrons (CGAs). The CGA generator was adapted to be air flow rate controlled based on the classical Sebba system; thus it could be well adopted in a continuous flotation process. Cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were employed for CGA creation. Positively surface-charged CTAB-CGAs (∼44.1 µm in size) and negatively surface-charged SDS-CGAs (∼42.1 µm in size) were produced at the optimum stirring speed of 8000 rpm. The half-life of CGAs varied from 100 s to 340 s under the tested conditions, which was largely sufficient for transferring CGAs from bubble generator to flotation cell. The air flow led to less stable CTAB-CGAs but apparently enhanced the stability of SDS-CGAs at higher air flow rates. In the presence of air flow, the drainage behavior was not much related to the type of surfactants. The continuous CGA-flotation trials highlighted the effective separation of silica nanoparticles - the removal efficiencies of different types of SiO2 NPs could reach approximately 90%-99%; however, at equivalent surfactant concentrations, no greater than 58% of NPs were removed when surfactants and bubbles were separately added into the flotation cell. The SiO2 NPs with small size were removed more efficiently by the CGA-flotation process. For the flotation with CTAB-CGAs, the neutral and basic initial SNP suspension was recommended, whereas the SDS-CGAs remained high flotation efficiency over all investigated pH. The good performance of CGA-flotation might be interpreted: most of the surfactant molecules well covered/coated on the surfaces of stable CGAs and thus fully contacted with NPs, resulting in the efficient utilization of surfactants.

Synthesis of a novel structure for the oral delivery of insulin and the study of its effect on diabetic rats.

Common materials used for drug delivery in the body are: liposomes, micelles, polymer capsules, dendrimers, nanoparticles, porous materials, etc. Drug delivery system should be inert, biodegradable, have high biocompatibility and the ability to load large amounts of the drug with known concentration while having a simple and economical sterilizing process. In this study we produced mesoporous silica nanostructures coated with polyamide amine dendrimer that were placed in chitosan-gelatin scaffolds. At every step of the synthesis, the products were identified using different methods, including XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and TGA. The final drug was studied in terms of in vitro & in vivo and MTT toxicity was evaluated.

Rice husks as a sustainable silica source for hierarchical flower-like metal silicate architectures assembled into ultrathin nanosheets for adsorption and catalysis.

Metal silicates have attracted extensive interests due to their unique structure and promising properties in adsorption and catalysis. However, their applications were hampered by the complex and expensive synthesis. In this paper, three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical flower-like metal silicate, including magnesium silicate, zinc silicate, nickel silicate and cobalt silicate, were for the first time prepared by using rice husks as a sustainable silicon source. The flower-like morphology, interconnected ultrathin nanosheets structure and high specific surface area endowed them with versatile applications. Magnesium silicate was used as an adsorbent with the maximum adsorption capacities of 557.9, 381.3, and 482.8mg/g for Pb2+, tetracycline (TC), and UO22+, respectively. Ni nanoparticles/silica (Ni NPs/SiO2) exhibited high catalytic activity and good stability for 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) reduction within only ∼160s, which can be attributed to the ultra-small particle size (∼6.8nm), good dispersion and high loading capacity of Ni NPs. Considering the abundance and renewability of rice husks, metal silicate with complex architecture can be easily produced at a large scale and become a sustainable and reliable resource for multifunctional applications.

Evidencia científica en sandblasting y neumopatías / Scientific Evidence relating Sandblasting and Neumopathies

Un importante número de estudios publicados recientemente ponen de manifiesto la asociación entre el sandblasting y el desarrollo de silicosis en formas graves. La silicosis es una enfermedad intersticial difusa producida por inhalación mantenida de sílice cristalina. No tiene tratamiento efectivo y su presentación y curso clínico son variables; haciendo la prevención y el diagnostico precoz, dos aspectos fundamentales en su control. Las fuentes de exposición a sílice son muy numerosas y se producen de forma casi exclusiva en el ámbito laboral. El sandblasting consiste en proyectar un chorro de arena contra una superficie con aire comprimido o vapor para limpiar, pulir y mejorar, etc. superficies duras. Los objetivos son: identificar la evidencia científica existente entre sandblasting y el desarrollo de silicosis, si existe relación dosis-respuesta, establecer los factores de riesgos del sandblasting, las condiciones de vulnerabilidad, el papel de los EPI en la prevención de silicosis en estos trabajadores e identificar la comorbilidad. Se ha realizado la búsqueda bibliográfica de artículos publicados entre 2006 y diciembre de 2015 en la siguientes bases de datos: Medline, Scopus, Lilacs, Ibecs y OSH. Se seleccionaron por nivel de evidencia y criterios de inclusión-exclusión un total de 20 artículos. La revisión sistemática de estos artículos parece sugerir una asociación concluyente entre el uso de la técnica de sandblasting y el desarrollo de silicosis en formas agresivas. No obstante el diseño descriptivo y transversal de la mayoría de los artículos seleccionados, invitan a realizar estudios con mejores diseños, para conseguir mayor nivel de evidencia

A significant number of studies have recently shown an association between sandblasting use the development of severe varieties of silicosis. Silicosis is a diffuse interstitial pulmonary disease caused by the continuous inhalation of dust containing crystal silica. It has no effective treatment, so the variable presentation and clinical course makes an early prevention and diagnosis two main aspects in its control. Sources of silica exposure are very diverse and almost exclusively work-related. Sandblasting is a medical method which projects blast of air or steam in combination with sand to perform tasks such as clean, polish and improve hard surfaces. The aims of this review are to identify the scientific evidence in the association between using sandblasting use and silicosis development, to determine the dose-response relationship, to identify the associated sandblasting risk factors, to describe vulnerability conditions, to analyze the PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) role in preventing illness among workers and to determine comorbidity. A literature search has been performed between 2006 and December 2015 in the following scientific databases: Medline, Scopus, Lilacs, Ibecs and OSH. 20 articles were selected taking into account the level of evidence according with SIGN criteria (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network), and the fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results of this systematic review suggest that there is a conclusive association between developing silicosis in its most aggressive pathological varieties, and using sandblasting. However, due to the crosssectional and descriptive predominant design of most of the studies, better designed study strategies are required in order to get better levels of evidence

Optimization of silica removal with magnesium chloride in papermaking effluents: mechanistic and kinetic studies.

The reuse of deinking paper mill effluent based on reverse osmosis is limited by silica scaling on the membranes. The removal of silica during softening processes is one of the most used approaches as it can treat large volumes of water at low cost, but when the water hardness is low, the addition of magnesium compounds is necessary. In the present investigation, MgCl2·6H2O was selected as magnesium source to analyze the effect of pH, dosage, temperature, and contact time on silica removal. Moreover, the silica removal mechanism was analyzed under different operational conditions. The results show that it is possible to obtain high silica removal rates (>70%) at an intermediate dosage (750 mg/L of MgCl2·6H2O) either at high pH (12.0) and ambient temperature (20 °C) or lower pHs, i.e., pH = 10.5, but at higher temperatures 35-50 °C. The kinetic study demonstrates that contact times lower than 30 min are enough for silica removal with independence of the temperature. SEM-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of the solids obtained confirms that silica is removed through the formation of magnesium silicates. The EDX analysis showed that, independently of the operational conditions, the atomic Si/Mg ratio was around 0.7 which indicates that antigorite (Mg3Si2O5(OH)4) is the predominant specie formed.

Regeneration of iron-based adsorptive media used for removing arsenic from groundwater.

Adsorptive media technology is regarded as a simple, low cost method of removing arsenic from drinking water particularly for small systems. Currently, when the effluent of a treatment system reaches the USEPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 ug/L, the exhausted media is removed and replaced by new virgin media. Although the commonly used iron-based media products are reasonable in price, the replacement cost accounts for around 80% of the systems total operational costs. One option to media replacement is on-site regeneration and reuse of the exhausted media. To determine whether an iron based media can be successfully regenerated and reused, laboratory batch and column regeneration tests were conducted on six exhausted iron-based media products obtained from six full scale arsenic removal treatment systems. Batch tests conducted on three of the media products to evaluate the effectiveness of 1-6% caustic regenerant solutions found that arsenic desorption increased until around 4%. Using 4% caustic solutions, the columns tests on the six exhausted media products showed arsenic removals ranged from 25 to 90% with the best results obtained with the Severn Trent E33 media. Exposing the media to caustic (pH ≥ 13) and acid (pH ≤ 2) solutions found minimal media loss with the caustic solution, but significant media dissolution with a pH 2 acid solution. A six column pilot plant test at an Ohio test site with the lab regenerated media products found that the regenerated media could achieve arsenic removals somewhat similar to virgin media.

Self-adjustable channel for split-flow lateral-transport thin separation of micrometer size particles.

A new construction of split-flow transport-thin fractionation (SPLITT) channel has been developed. The channel is designed to work in full-feed depletion mode. Through the use of fixed and different diameters of outlets, the channel has ability to self-adjust the velocity of sample flow at the outlets. Thus the entire fractionation is achieved with one adjustable parameter, namely the flow rate at the inlet to the channel simple to set by low pulsation pump. Moreover, only one splitter at the end of separation cell was applied to enhance the sample throughput. The system performance was tested with silica particles suspension during both short and long term fractionations. Additionally, natural zeolite was used to check the feasibility of channel to separate other materials. The particle size distribution in obtained fractions and initial suspensions were measured with laser diffraction particle sizer. The results confirm a good resolution of the separation during an hour of permanent use. After 48 h the separation still occurs, however, the resolution is significantly decreasing. Intersection of particle size distribution curves of separated fractions obtained from particle sizer can be used to check an agreement between theoretical and practical value of cut-off diameter.

Concentration gradient focusing and separation in a silica nanofluidic channel with a non-uniform electroosmotic flow.

The simultaneous concentration gradient focusing and separation of proteins in a silica nanofluidic channel of various geometries is investigated experimentally and theoretically. Previous modelling of a similar device [Inglis et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2011, 50, 7546] assumed a uniform velocity profile along the length of the nanochannel. Using detailed numerical analysis incorporating charge regulation and viscoelectric effects, we show that in reality the varying axial electric field and varying electric double layer thickness caused by the concentration gradient, induce a highly non-uniform velocity profile, fundamentally altering the protein trapping mechanism: the direction of the local electroosmotic flow reverses and two local vortices are formed near the centreline of the nanochannel at the low salt concentration end, enhancing trapping efficiency. Simulation results for yellow/red fluorescent protein R-PE concentration enhancement, peak focusing position and peak focusing width are in good agreement with experimental measurements, validating the model. The predicted separation of yellow/red (R-PE) from green (Dyl-Strep) fluorescent proteins mimics that from a previous experiment [Inglis et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2011, 50, 7546] conducted in a slightly different geometry. The results will inform the design of new class of matrix-free particle focusing and separation devices.

Treatment of steam-assisted gravity drainage water using low coagulant dose and Fenton oxidation.

The use of coagulation and Fenton oxidation was studied for total organic carbon (TOC) and silica removal from steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) water at 800C and two different concentrations replicating the stream feeding the warm lime softening unit having 675 mg/L TOC and 350 mg/L silica and the blowdown of the once through steam generator having 3700mg/L TOC and 2585 mg/L silica. Coagulation was carried out by the addition of FeCl3, Al(NO3)3 or Ca(NO3)2. The results showed that Fe(III) salt outperformed Al(III) and Ca(II) salts. A two-stage addition of 2.5 g FeCl3 per g TOC intermediated by a filtration unit resulted in approximately 72% TOC removal and more than 80% silica removal while maintaining low solid waste. Comparing results pertaining to coagulant concentration and final pH, it can be easily concluded that silica removal is governed by the resultant pH, whereas TOC removal was accomplished through surface neutralization and localized enmeshment coagulation. Fenton oxidation is proposed to further treat the filtrate obtained from the second stage Fe(III) coagulation. An additional 10% TOC removal could be achieved; at seven times lower H202 dose in the presence of Fe2+ or Fe0 reagent. Moreover, the advanced Fenton process resulted in high silica removal as a result of adsorption onto Fe(OH)3 precipitate, which formed at the equilibrium pH of the system.

The potential of asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation hyphenated to multiple detectors for the quantification and size estimation of silica nanoparticles in a food matrix.

This work represents a first systematic approach to the size-based elemental quantification and size estimation of metal(loid) oxide nanoparticles such as silica (SiO2) in a real food matrix using asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation coupled online with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and multi-angle light scattering (MALS) and offline with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). Coffee creamer was selected as the model sample since it is known to contain silica as well as metal oxides such as titania at the milligramme per kilogramme levels. Optimisation of sample preparation conditions such as matrix-to-solvent ratio, defatting with organic solvents and sonication time that may affect nanoparticle size and size distribution in suspensions was investigated. Special attention was paid to the selection of conditions that minimise particle transformation during sample preparation and analysis. The coffee creamer matrix components were found to stabilise food grade SiO2 particles in comparison with water suspensions whilst no significant effect of defatting using hexane was found. The use of sample preparation procedures that mimic food cooking in real life was also investigated regarding their effect on particle size and particle size distribution of silica nanoparticles in the investigated food matrix; no significant effect of the water temperature ranging from ambient temperature to 60 °C was observed. Field-flow fractionation coupled to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (FFF-ICP-MS) analysis of extracts of both unspiked coffee creamer and coffee creamer spiked with food grade silicon dioxide, using different approaches for size estimation, enabled determination of SiO2 size-based speciation. Element-specific detection by ICP-MS and post-FFF calibration with elemental calibration standards was used to determine the elemental composition of size fractions separated online by FFF. Quantitative data on mass balance is provided for the size-based speciation of the investigated inorganic nano-objects in the complex matrix. The combination of FFF with offline fractionation by filtration and with detection by ICP-MS and TEM/EDAX has been proven essential to provide reliable information of nanoparticle size in the complex food matrix.