The Material Matters: Sorption/Desorption Study of Selected Estrogens on Common Tubing or Sampling Materials Used in Water Sampling, Handling, Analysis or Treatment Technologies

Plastic/rubber materials used as fasteners in equipment for analyzing or removing organic pollutants in water treatment technologies form an essential part of the device. Micropollutants in water are typically present at very low concentrations (ng/L to µg/L). Therefore, when designing, for example, units for advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) or planning sample handling, it is necessary to assess whether the material is compatible with the usually hydrophobic nature of the pollutants. As a model example, the possible interactions of estrogens, namely, estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) with six commonly used plastic and rubber materials were investigated at environmentally relevant concentrations (100–500 ng/L). In the first phase, we proved that polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) materials adsorbed only negligible amounts of estrogens, while significant amounts of E1, E2 and EE2 were adsorbed onto Tygon S3™ material. Another unsuitable material was styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), sorbing a considerable quantity of estrone. A detailed test of EPDM at higher concentrations (300 and 500 ng/L) and prolonged soaking time showed significant sorption of EE2 after 12 h of soaking in both deionized and tap water matrices. Thus, EPDM, PTFE and PVDF are suitable materials for sample handling or producing devices for AOP treatment due to their chemical inertness and mechanical flexibility. The results suggest that plastic materials that come into contact with contaminated water must be carefully selected, especially when working at environmentally relevant concentrations.