Solid-phase extraction of estrogen hormones onto chemically modified carbon cryogel

Abstract

This study introduces a novel solid-phase extraction (SPE) method utilizing pristine and chemically treated carbon cryogel (CC) as an adsorbent for the isolation and enrichment of estrogen hormones (estrone, 17β-estradiol, and 17α-ethinylestradiol) from water samples. High recovery values (82-95 %) were obtained after optimizing the SPE technique, which included adsorbent mass and chemical treatment, sample volume and pH, and elution solvent type and volume. The developed analytical method, based on SPE coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), proves to be selective, efficient, and cost-effective for the determination of selected estrogens. The utilization of self-made cartridges with chemically modified CC produced results comparable to those obtained with commercial cartridges while employing significantly less material. Furthermore, the selectivity of the employed materials contributed to minor matrix effects. The optimized method was successfully applied to analyze estrogen hormones in groundwater, surface water, and wastewater samples, with the results highlighting the importance of monitoring these contaminants in the aquatic environment.