RESUMEN
A promising route for thorough removal of 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) from aqueous media was achieved through ozonation using mesoporous silicas such SBA-15, SBA-16, MCM-41 and MCM-48 as catalysts. Comparison with aluminosilicates along with Zeta potential and particle size measurements allowed demonstrating that EE2 interaction with silanols and hydrophobic -Si-O-Si- groups are essential requirements for the catalytic activity. Acid-base interactions, if any, should have minor contribution. EE2 hydroxylation appears to be an early step in the ozonation on all catalysts, but MCM-41 showed increased activity in phenolic ring cleavage. Confrontation of HPLC-UV and UV-Vis and HPLC-UV measurements revealed highest catalytic activity for MCM-41 and to a lesser extend of MCM-48 due to their higher specific surface area and weaker acid character. These results provide valuable findings for judiciously tailoring optimum [EE2-Silica:Water] interactions for thorough oxidative degradation of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC).