Photochemical Processes for Remediation of Steroid Estrogens

Abstract

The growing presence of steroid estrogens in aquatic systems poses risk to ecological health and stability. These compounds can elicit endocrine disrupting effects at even trace (i.e., parts-per-trillion) concentrations making monitoring and treatment efforts especially challenging. The objectives of the work were to 1) Develop and validate a QuEChERS method for improved isolation of parts-per-trillion concentrations aqueous steroid estrogens in a complex water matrix for quantitation via LC-MS/MS, 2) Evaluate the effectiveness of a commercially available treatment technology, medium-pressure UV (MP UV) photolysis, for aqueous steroid estrogen removal to develop an understanding of existing treatment capabilities, 3) Determine the efficacy of NO3- as an in-situ photooxidant in the MP UV treatment process and understand its implications for mitigating aqueous steroid estrogens, and 4) Assess the utility of UV LED photolysis as a tuneable treatment approach for targeted degradation of aqueous steroid estrogens and other trace organic compounds.