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Biotransformation of AFFF Component 6:2 Fluorotelomer Thioether Amido Sulfonate Generates 6:2 Fluorotelomer Thioether Carboxylate under Sulfate-Reducing Conditions

Journal Article · · Environmental Science & Technology Letters (Online)
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [5];  [6];  [7];  [1];  [8]
  1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
  2. Exponent, Pasadena, CA (United States)
  3. Arcadis, San Francisco, CA (United States)
  4. Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing (China)
  5. Univ. of Auckland (New Zealand)
  6. Aarhus Univ. (Denmark)
  7. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States)
  8. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

The fate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) under anaerobic conditions has not been well characterized, leaving major gaps in our understanding of PFAS fate and transformation at contaminated sites. In this study, the biotransformation of 6:2 fluorotelomer thioether amido sulfonate (6:2 FtTAoS), a component of several AFFF formulations, was investigated under sulfate-reducing conditions in microcosms inoculated with either pristine or AFFF-impacted solids. To identify the transformation products, we used high-resolution mass spectrometry and employed suspect-screening and nontargeted compound identification methods. These analyses demonstrated that 6:2 FtTAoS was transformed primarily to a stable polyfluoroalkyl compound, 6:2 fluorotelomer thioether propionate (6:2 FtTP). It did not undergo further reactions to produce the perfluoroalkyl carboxylates and fluorotelomer sulfonates and carboxylates that were observed during aerobic transformations. Here, the 6:2 FtTP was recalcitrant to biotransformation, indicating the stability of the thioether group under sulfate-reducing conditions. The total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay was used to assess the presence of other PFASs. Although nearly all of the PFAS mass initially present was recovered from the pristine microcosms, only 67% of the initial PFAS mass was recovered from the contaminated microcosms, suggesting the formation of volatile biotransformation products or those that could not be detected by the TOP assay.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1479405
Journal Information:
Environmental Science & Technology Letters (Online), Journal Name: Environmental Science & Technology Letters (Online) Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 5; ISSN 2328-8930
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES