Removal of estrogens from aqueous solutions using 3D-printed polymers

Different pharmaceuticals and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can negatively impact our environment, even at nanogram per liter levels. At the same time, the amount of micro- and nanoplastics from various sources, such as personal care products, wastewater sludge, vehicle tire wear, etc., are increasing in the environment. Polymers may also serve as a source for EDCs and other contaminants via the decomposition of polymers or metabolic processes. However, they may serve as sorbents for pollutants as well. In this work, estrogen group hormones were shown to bind into 3D-printed filters made from commonly used polymers, such as polyamide-12 (PA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). The adsorption tests showed that polymers containing a higher degree of functional groups (PA and TPU) were more efficient adsorbents than structurally simpler polymers (PP and PS). Kinetic models for polyamide flow-through filters were measured for estrone, 17β-estradiol, and 17α-ethinylestradiol. The filters printed with the powder-bed fusion 3D printing technique successfully removed estrogen group hormones from water. The 3D printing technique provided a versatile tool for preparing filters with optimized porosities and flow-through properties.