Micropollutant sorption to membrane polymers: A review of mechanisms for estrogens

► Sorption plays an important role in micropollutant retention by membranes. ► Measured sorption was up to 1.2 ng/cm2 for estrogens. ► The internally accessible surface area of polymers is important. ► Material differences are attributed to a combination of hydrophobic and supramolecular interactions. ► Methodologies need to be developed to measure such interactions qualitatively and quantitatively.