Journal of Geography  & Natural Disasters
Open Access

Abstract

Analysis of endocrine disruptors in water using magnetic nanoparticles in the extraction method

Rosa Ana Perez, Beatriz Albero and Jose Luis Tadeo

The use of nanoparticles (NPs) of magnetite (Fe3O4) in the extraction process have been described as an interesting tool for the analysis of pollutants in liquid samples. These NPs have been successfully applied in the extraction by magnetic solid phase extraction (mSPE) or assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) of endocrine disruptors from water samples. The sorbent is added directly to the solution, with or without with a solvent disperser, and the NPs containing the analytes are isolated by placing a magnet on the wall of the flask and discarding the solution. Finally, the target compounds can be eluted from the sorbent with a low quantity of an adequate organic solvent to be analyzed. Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are naturally occurring or man-made substances that alter functions of the endocrine system and consequently cause adverse health effects in an intact organism, its progeny, or (sub) populations1. A wide range of substances, present in a high variety of everyday products, are thought to cause endocrine disruption at very low concentrations2. Therefore, the main objective was to develop quick, cheap and efficient methods for the simultaneous analysis of EDCs using Fe3O4 NPs. The applicability of mSPE and DLLME/D-µ-SPE (see Figure 1) for the extraction of five EDCs using Fe3O4 NPs with different coating was evaluated, and the best results were obtained by DLLME/D-µ-SPE using uncoated and Ol-coated NPs3. Very good results were obtained with the mSPE methods developed for the analysis of three steroid hormones4 and macrolides5 in water samples, respectively. The methods demonstrate their applicability for the determination of EDCs in different water samples with detection limits comparable to those reported as satisfactory for monitoring EDCs in environmental and biological samples.

Published Date: 2021-07-28; Received Date: 2021-07-01