The photodegradation of 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol in water containing iron and dissolved organic matter

17 alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in natural waters can seriously harm ecosystems and human health. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) and iron minerals are ubiquitous in natural waters, and they can shorten the half-life of EE2 in the natural environment. The interaction between dissolved organics and iron affects pollutants' transformation pathways. The mechanism of EE2's adsorption on hematite, magnetite and pyrite was studied. A photo-Fenton system was constructed in which humic acid (HA) and iron minerals degraded EE2 under simulated natural light conditions. Pyrite showed the best adsorption and degradation in acidic conditions (52%) for 5 h. Hydroxyl radical was found to be the main active substance in the photodegradation. The degradation products of EE2 were identified and possible degradation pathways were inferred. These results can contribute to the understanding of the transformation pathways of persistent organic pollutants in natural waters.

Automated summary

17alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) can cause serious harm to ecosystems and human health in natural waters. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) and iron minerals are commonly present in natural waters, affecting the half-life and transformation pathways of EE2. This study investigated the adsorption and degradation of EE2 on different iron minerals, and constructed a photo-Fenton system to simulate natural light conditions.