Increasing Ionic Strength Aggregation-Based Growth and Reaction Mechanisms of Iron Oxyhydroxide Nanoparticles Christopher S. Kim, Department of Chemistry, Chapman University, Orange, CA 92866 Little is known about the extent and mechanisms of metal sorption to nanoparticles and the effects of nanoparticle aggregation on metal sorption and desorption. Macroscopic studies show that uptake/retention vary considerably as a function of aggregation mechanism, while X-ray Increasing pH Increasing Ionic Strength absorption spectroscopic studies suggest that the speciation of sorbed metal species is variable at the surface, with more weakly-bound species removed during desorption and more entrained species remaining on the surface. Such sorption and incorporation effects have implications for the long-term fate and mobility of metals in contaminated regions.