Surface complexation modeling of biomolecule adsorptions onto titania

Abstract

The adsorption of nucleic acid components on the surface of nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (anatase, pHpzc = 6.5) in NaCl solutions was investigated using potentiometric titrations and multibatch adsorption experiments over a wide range of pH and ionic strengths. The Basic Stern surface complexation model was applied to experimental data to obtain quantitative equilibrium reaction constants. Adsorption results suggest that there is a considerable difference in the binding of nucleobases, nucleosides, and nucleotides with an anatase surface.