title: 6-2 Fluorotelomer alcohol aerobic biodegradation in soil and mixed bacterial culture.
abstract: The first studies to explore 6-2 fluorotelomer alcohol [6-2 FTOH, F(CF(2))(6)CH(2)CH(2)OH] aerobic biodegradation are described. Biodegradation yields and metabolite concentrations were determined in mixed bacterial culture (90d) and aerobic soil (180d). 6-2 FTOH primary degradation half-life was less than 2d in both. The overall mass balance in mixed bacterial culture (day 90) was approximately 60%. At day 90, the molar yield was 6% for 6-2 FTA [F(CF(2))(6)CH(2)COOH], 23% for 6-2 FTUA [F(CF(2))(5)CFCHCOOH], 16% for 5-2 sFTOH [F(CF(2))(5)CHOHCH(3)], 6% for 5-3 acid [F(CF(2))(5)CH(2)CH(2)COOH], and 5% for PFHxA [F(CF(2))(5)COOH]. The overall mass balance in aerobic soil was approximately 67% (day 180). At day 180, the major terminal metabolites were PFPeA, [F(CF(2))(4)COOH, 30%], PFHxA (8%), PFBA [F(CF(2))(3)COOH, 2%], and 5-3 acid (15%). A new metabolite 4-3 acid [F(CF(2))(4)CH(2)CH(2)COOH] accounted for 1%, 6-2 FTOH for 3%, and 5-2 sFTOH for 7%. Based on 8-2 FTOH aerobic biodegradation pathways, PFHxA was expected in greatest yield from 6-2 FTOH degradation. However, PFPeA was observed in greatest yield in soil, suggesting a preference for alternate degradation pathways. Selected metabolites were also studied in aerobic soil. 5-3 Acid degraded to only 4-3 acid with a molar yield of 2.3%. 5-2 sFTOH degraded to PFPeA and PFHxA, and 5-2 FT Ketone [F(CF(2))(5)COCH(3)] degraded to 5-2 sFTOH, suggesting that 5-2 sFTOH is the direct precursor to PFPeA and PFHxA. Another new metabolite, 5-3 ketone aldehyde [F(CF(2))(5)COCH(2)CHO] was also identified in mixed bacterial culture. The formation of PFBA, PFPeA, and 4-3 acid indicates that multiple -CF(2)- groups in 6-2 FTOH were removed during microbial biodegradation.
authors.affiliation: E.I. duPont de Nemours and Co., Inc., Wilmington, DE 19714-6300, USA.
authors.forename: Jinxia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szostek
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Buck
authors.forename: Patricia K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Panciroli
authors.forename: Patrick W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Folsom
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sulecki
authors.forename: Cheryl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bellin
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000438:Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002210:Caprylates / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D002210:Caprylates; D012987:Soil