Abstract
Endocrine disruptors represent risks to aquatic ecosystem and humans, and are commonly detected in surface water. Photochemical treatments can be used to remove 17β-estradiol (E2), but few studies have analyzed the kinetics, intermediates, and 17β-estradiol degradation pathways in natural matrices. In this study, the photochemical behavior of E2 under ultraviolet irradiation (UVC, 254nm) associated with oxidants (H2O2 or O3) or photocatalyst (TiO2) was investigated to evaluate the degradation potential and the transformation pathway in a natural surface water matrix. Additionally, computational modeling analyses with Ecological Structure Activity Relationships (ECOSAR) software were performed to predict the toxicity from the E2 and its transformation byproducts. E2 degradation kinetics showed adjusted to the pseudo-first-order kinetic model, being kUV/O3 > kUV/TiO2 > kUV/H2O2 > kUV. Eight transformation byproducts were identified by liquid chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/TOF-MS) in natural surface water samples. These byproducts formed as the result of opening the aromatic ring and adding the hydroxyl radical. The E2 degradation pathway was proposed based on the byproducts identified in this study and in previous studies, suggesting the formation of aliphatic and hydroxylated byproducts. E2 treatment presented both very toxic and not harmful byproducts.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
