Removal of Estrogenic Compounds from Aqueous Solutions Using Zeolites

The adsorption capacities of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) onto two Y type zeolites (CBV-100 and CBV-901), a ZSM zeolite (CBV-28014), and a silicalite zeolite (HISIV-3000) in water were investigated. The CBV-901 extrudate, which has a lower ratio of silicon dioxide/aluminum oxide (SiO2/Al2O3) than CBV-28014 and less surface area than CBV-100, had the highest adsorption affinity for 17b-estradiol. At an equilibrium concentration of 0.09 mg/L, the adsorption capacity of E2 by CBV-901 extrudate was 8.24 mg/g, whereas the E2 adsorption capacities of CBV-28014, HISIV-3000, CBV-100 were all <0.05 mg/g. CBV-901 had adsorption affinities for other estrogens such as estrone (E1) and estriol (E3). In a mixture of E1, E2, and E3, CBV-901 extrudate showed a greater affinity for E1 and E2 than for E3. The CBV-901 extrudate was also studied for the adsorption of E1, E2, EE2 (17 beta-ethynylestradiol), progesterone, 4-nonylphenol, and 4-tert-octylphenol in a spiked effluent. Results showed a promising prospect of CBV-901 for the removal of estrogenic compounds in aqueous solutions.