TY - JOUR A1 - Wohlleben, W. A1 - Mielke, Johannes A1 - Bianchin, A. A1 - Ghanem, A. A1 - Freiberger, H. A1 - Rauscher, H. A1 - Gemeinert, Marion A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Reliable nanomaterial classification of powders using the volume-specific surface area method N2 - The volume-specific surface area (VSSA) of a particulate material is one of two apparently very different metrics recommended by the European Commission for a definition of "nanomaterial" for regulatory purposes: specifically, the VSSA metric may classify nanomaterials and non-nanomaterials differently than the median size in number metrics, depending on the chemical composition, size, polydispersity, shape, porosity, and aggregation of the particles in the powder. Here we evaluate the extent of agreement between classification by electron microscopy (EM) and classification by VSSA on a large set of diverse particulate substances that represent all the anticipated challenges except mixtures of different substances. EM and VSSA are determined in multiple labs to assess also the level of reproducibility. Based on the results obtained on highly characterized benchmark materials from the NanoDefine EU FP7 project, we derive a tiered screening strategy for the purpose of implementing the definition of nanomaterials. We finally apply the Screening strategy to further industrial materials, which were classified correctly and left only borderline cases for EM. On platelet-shaped nanomaterials, VSSA is essential to prevent false-negative classification by EM. On porous materials, approaches involving extended Adsorption isotherms prevent false positive classification by VSSA. We find no false negatives by VSSA, neither in Tier 1 nor in Tier 2, despite real-world industrial polydispersity and diverse composition, shape, and coatings. The VSSA screening strategy is recommended for inclusion in a technical guidance for the implementation of the definition. KW - Nanomaterial KW - Nanomaterial classification KW - Regulation KW - VSSA KW - Size measurement KW - Particle size PY - 2017 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-391450 SN - 1388-0764 SN - 1572-896X VL - 19 IS - 2 SP - Article 61, 1 EP - 16 PB - Springer Nature AN - OPUS4-39145 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Wohlleben, W. A1 - Mielke, Johannes A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Zimathies, Annett A1 - Bianchin, A. A1 - Lecloux, A. A1 - Roebben, G. A1 - Rauscher, H. A1 - Gibson, N. T1 - Development of an integrated approach based on validated and standardized methods to support the implementation of the EC recommendation for a definition of nanomaterial N2 - The VSSA approach has the important advantage over classifying, imaging and counting techniques that it does not involve dispersion protocols. Further, the BET technique as the basis for VSSA determination it is in widespread use, generates low costs and is specified for many commercial materials. Finally, the same equipment allows for a deeper analysis by full isotherm evaluation. The present deliverable assesses all NanoDefine powders, supplemented by further real-world materials (in total 26 powders), and quantitatively compares the relationship between the median size (by Electron Microscopy – considered as benchmark for the EC nanomaterial definition) vs. the size derived from VSSA. The VSSA method mitigates the challenges of EM to assess the thickness of platelets, but worked as well on fibbers and particles of irregular shapes. A screening strategy is proposed. If applied to the further data from real-world materials as validation set, this screening does achieve a correct classification, leaving only borderline materials for tier 2 assessment. KW - Nanomaterial KW - Classification KW - Regulation KW - VSSA KW - Size measurement KW - Particle size PY - 2017 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-398938 SP - 1 EP - 26 PB - The NanoDefine Consortium CY - Wageningen, The Netherlands AN - OPUS4-39893 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -