Cyclodextrins (CD) entrapped in nanofiber composite membranes are potential selective adsorbing materials to remove steroid hormone (SHs) micropollutants from water. This study aims to elucidate the role of CD macrocyclic host type on the SHs inclusion complexation and uptake in filtration. Three CD types (α, β, and γ) are cross-linked with epichlorohydrin to form polymers (αCDP, βCDP and γCDP) and entrapped into a nanofiber composite membrane by electrospinning. TGA analysis confirmed the CD entrapment into the nanofiber without loss of CD molecules during filtration.
The CD type plays a dominant role in controlling the removal of different SHs. A similar removal (range 33 to 50%) was observed with αCDP, irrespective of the SH type. In contrast, removal and uptake dependent on SH type were observed for β and γCDP, with the highest removal of 74% for progesterone, followed by estradiol (46%) and estrone (27%) and the lowest removal of 3% for testosterone.
Alessandra Imbrogno, Han Ya Lin, Akhil Gopalakrishnan, Babak Minofar, Andrea I. Schäfer (2024)
Functionalized composite nanofiber membranes for selective steroid hormone micropollutants uptake from water: role of cyclodextrin type. Water Research 122543.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.122543.