Extraction of estrogen hormones from water samples using an aqueous two-phase system: A new approach for sample preparation in the analysis of emerging contaminants

Abstract In this study, an environmentally friendly method of extracting steroid hormones, 17α-ethinylestradiol, levonorgestrel, gestodene, cyproterone acetate and estradiol valerate, using an aqueous two-phase system was developed. The aqueous two-phase system was applied as an organic solvent-free liquid–liquid extraction technique for the determination of these compounds by UV–Vis spectrophotometry in environmental samples. The experimental conditions were evaluated through the pH value of the medium (3.00–11.0), the nature of the electrolyte and polymer forming the system, the tie-line length (26.76–62.53% w/w), the temperature (278.15–313.15 K), and the mass ratio between the bottom and top phases of the system (1–5). The recovery efficiency was evaluated using the partition coefficient and the analytical signal of each hormone in the top phase. The study was carried out through univariate and multivariate optimization and, for the first time, interactions of tie-line length, polymer forming the system and temperature were observed, and these directly influenced the partition of hormones in aqueous two-phase system. An overall experimental condition for the recovery of all hormones simultaneously (L35 + Na2SO4 + H2O, at pH = 3.00, tie-line length = 64.06% w/w, temperature = 298.15 K and mass ratio between the bottom and top phases of the system = 5) was determined. Partition coefficients (8.8 ± 0.8) to (4533 ± 48) were obtained for the hormones in samples of drinking water, samples from lake and river water, and filtered water from a water treatment plant. Thereby, the aqueous two-phase system proved to be an innovative and good organic solvent free liquid–liquid extraction of hormones in environmental samples.