title: 6:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) biodegradation by multiple microbial species under different physiological conditions.
abstract: Factors affecting microbial aerobic biodegradation of 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol [6:2 FTOH, F(CF₂)₆CH₂CH₂OH] were investigated using three alkane-degrading bacteria (Mycobacterium vaccae JOB5, Pseudomonas oleovorans, and Pseudomonas butanovora) and one fluoroacetate-degrading bacterium (Pseudomonas fluorescens DSM 8341). In the presence of formate (an external reducing energy source), P. fluorescens DSM 8341 produced perfluorobutanoic acid by removing three -CF₂- groups from 6:2 FTOH. Only P. fluorescens DSM 8341 transformed 5:3 acid to 4:3 acid and perfluoropentanoic acid. However, formate showed no effects on the degradation rates, patterns, or transformation products of 6:2 FTOH by M. vaccae JOB5. When dicyclopropylketone (an alkane hydroxylase inducer) or formate was added, P. oleovorans rapidly degraded 6:2 FTOH and produced PFPeA. In the presence of lactate, P. butanovora degraded 6:2 FTOH slowly but produced diverse metabolites. Our results demonstrate that the extent and mechanisms of 6:2 FTOH biotransformation are affected by strain types, enzyme inducers, and levels of reducing energy.
authors.affiliation: Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-3136, USA.
authors.forename: Myung Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kung Hui
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003521:Cyclopropanes / Q000378:metabolism; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D005561:Formates / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D005561:Formates; C030544:formic acid; C010710:dicyclopropylketone; C033094:perfluorobutyric acid