Application of biochar from agro‑industrial waste in solid‑phase extraction for the determination of 17β‑estradiol from aqueous solution

Abstract

In this study, the biochar produced from coffee wastes and eucalyptus sawdust was employed as an adsorbent in solid-phase extraction devices for the determination of 17β-estradiol from aqueous solution. Parameters such as adsorbent mass, solvent type, eluent volume, ionic strength, breakthrough volume, and the cartridge reuse were evaluated. The best experimental conditions for solid-phase extraction concerning adsorbent mass, elution solvent, eluent volume, ionic strength, breakthrough volume, and cartridge reuse were established. The most suitable conditions for 1.0-mL cartridge were: mass of 50 mg, elution solvent 5.0 mL of acetonitrile/water 90:10 (v:v), 0.003 mol L−1 NaCl concentration, and 17β-estradiol solution volume 50.0 mL. The solid-phase extraction results showed that, although 17β-estradiol recovery was about 60%, the removal efficiency was 100% and the cartridges of 200 and 500 mg can be reused eight and four times, respectively, without any decrease in adsorption capacity. The results demonstrate the potential use of biochar as new adsorbent in solid-phase extraction devices for the removal of estrogens in aqueous solution.