Air-stable metal oxide nanoparticles

A method of sorbing a target substance comprising the steps of:

• providing a quantity of a composition comprising particles of a metal oxide or a metal hydroxide having an average crystallite size of up to about 20 nm and which are at least partially coated with a coating material selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethyl dodecyl amine, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, 2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyne-4,7-diol, nonylphenol polyethylene glycol ethers, C10-14 alkyl ether phosphates, ethoxylated alcohols, alkyl amines, amine salts, ethoxylated amines, mineral oils, silicone oils, fomblin oils, vegetable oils, carnauba wax, polyethylene wax, silyl reagents, proteins, DNA, RNA, enzymes, carbohydrates, starches, butadiene, styrene, copolymers of butadiene and styrene, copolymers of styrene, acrylonitrile, polyvinylchloride, polybutadiene-coacrylonitrile, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, cellulosics, silicon rubbers, nylons, rubbers, polyurethane, rayon, polyvinylidene chloride, polycarbonates, aramids, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyesters, and mixtures thereof;
• and
• contacting said composition with a target substance under conditions for sorbing at least a portion of said target substance.