Solid-phase microextraction coupled with HPLC and GC/MS for evaluation of photocatalytic degradation of steroid hormone (EE2) in aqueous medium

17-alpha-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) is the synthetic form of 17-beta estradiol, which is well known as steroid hormone. According to the literature, existence of steroid hormones in water and foods is a one of the main risk factors causing breast and prostate cancer [1]. Steroid hormones cause infertility and short stature in men as endocrine disrupters. So there is a vital need to develop effective methods for degradation of them. In this study, photocatalytic degradation of EE2 in aquatic environment and in the presence of TiO2 immobilized glass as nano-photocatalyst under UVC irradiation was investigated. The effect of various parameters on degradation processes such as pH, time and intensity of UV radiation were studied and optimized. Mechanism of degradation was also studied.Experimental design of degradation process based on central composite design was carried out and following model was obtained.y=69.23-5.47 A+2.80 B+13.80 C+2.47 AB+2.75 AC-1.38 BC+1.26A^2+6.90B^2+1.17C^2In order to evaluation of degradation performance and identification of photo-degradation by-products an SPME method based on n-octanol loaded hollow fiber membrane coupled with HPLC and GC/MS were proposed.