Evaluation of molecularly imprinted and non-imprinted nanoparticles for removal of endocrine disrupting compounds from surface water and wastewater

Endocrine disruptors are trace contaminants of growing concern. Improved analytical procedures as well as increasing industrialization and use of pharmaceuticals have resulted in the measurement of trace levels of endocrine disruptors in many surface water bodies and drinking water resources. Endocrine disruptors are partially removed during conventional drinking water and wastewater treatment processes primarily during biological treatment, activated carbon treatment, disinfection, and membrane treatment. Biological treatment and disinfection function by degrading the endocrine disruptors into potentially harmful daughter products the efficiency of activated carbon treatment is reduced by fouling, and membrane treatment is not economically feasible. Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) nanoparticles have the potential to completely remove endocrine disruptors from water without leaving daughter products behind since they function through adsorption but have a greater at traction for compounds similar to the imprinted template.This study investigated the use of molecularly imprinted (MIP) and non-imprinted nanoparticles (NIP) for preconcentration of endocrine disruptors for analytical measurements and for water treatment applications. In the first phase, results indicated that the preconcentration of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) onto MIP was not efficient enough for analytical preconcentration purposes and requires significant development work. E2 is a common endocrine disruptor found in wastewater and drinking water. In the second phase of experiments, the non-imprinted polymers (NIP) were shown to be effective for the removal of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) 17alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) bisphenol-A, atrazine, and diethylstilbestrol. NIP particles were also shown to effectively remove unknown trace organic contaminants and disinfection by products from surface and secondary wastewater effluent, as well as ammonia and total organic carbon (TOC). In the third phase of experiments, several chemical and physical removal schemes were investigated for the final removal of the particles from the water following treatment and centrifugation was shown to be effective.