Removal of endocrine-disrupting chemical mixtures in water using chlorination and photolysis

Abstract Micropollutants have been continuously detected in freshwater. In parallel, the potential adverse effects of human exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) through drinking water gaining attention researchers and health authorities. Given this fact, study aimed evaluate effectiveness chlorination photolysis remove estrogenic activity caused by mixtures EDCs water: estrone (E1: 100 ng L−1), 17β-estradiol (E2: ethinylestradiol (EE2: 50 nonylphenol (NP: 1,000 L−1) under operating conditions applicable for treatment plants. The tests were performed using freshwater spiked with following mixtures: E1 + E2, E2 EE2, NP, EE2 NP). Removal efficiencies up 99.7% achieved at a chlorine dose 2.75 mg L–1 30 min contact time. photolysis, removal was higher than 99.9% UV 186 mJ cm–2. Results indicated that both can be efficient tested EDC water. Furthermore, experiments suggested efficiently removed feasible disinfection conditions.