Application of Modified Bricks Ferrihydrite-Coated for the Elimination of Hormones from Contaminated Water: Case of 17α-Ethynylestradiol, Testosterone and Estrone

Hormones, categorized as emerging contaminants, enter the aquatic environment through wastewater effluents. Despite efforts by conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), these hormones remain difficult to eliminate. This study specifically targets the elimination of three hormones from water by employing ferrihydrite-coated bricks modified in laboratory settings, using discarded bricks from the Central African Republic as the primary material. The effectiveness of these modified brick-ferrihydrite coatings was assessed for 17α-ethynyl estradiol (EE2), Testosterone (TST), and Estrone (E1). The adsorbent demonstrated notable efficiency in removing all three hormones, with a rapid sorption process influenced by pH and temperature. Pseudo-second-order kinetics, with R² values exceeding 0.99, govern the adsorption process, and activation energy calculations indicate values ranging from 4 to 12 kJ/mol. The modified brick ferrihydrite-coated surfaces exhibited physisorption characterized by low energy. The retention isotherm for the selected hormones is well-represented by the Freundlich model, with adsorption capacities of 91, 43, and 84 mg/g for E1, TST, and EE2, respectively. This suggests that utilizing ferrihydrite-coated bricks for adsorption could be a cost-effective technique for hormone removal from water.