There is growing concern of the adverse effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC’s) on the environment, wildlife and human beings. It is thus important to understand the transportation of EDC’s and their interactions with soil, suspended, and sediment particles in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, the sorption of the EDC 17a-ethinylestradiol (EE2) to montmorillonite, a major mineral component in surface aquifers, was investigated in aqueous solutions at 25°C. Time-based batch sorption experiments of 0.50-2.0 mg/L EE2 were conducted for 30 minutes up to 2 days. Fluorescent measurement of aqueous EE2 displayed a significant sorption on montmorillonite. Mass balance of the solute with the two phases showed that equilibrium was achieved after 48 hours of agitation, with 50-66% of EE2 associated with the clay. The nonlinear Freundlich isotherm model was used for 48-hour sorption data, and yielded a K<sub>F</sub> value of 3.15, and an n value of 1.2. Sorption experiments revealed a slower equilibrium time, but a strong affinity for the powdered montmorillonite clay.

Sorption of 17a-ethynylestradiol on montmorillonite clay

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