title: Investigating the biodegradability of a fluorotelomer-based acrylate polymer in a soil-plant microcosm by indirect and direct analysis.
abstract: Fluorotelomer-based acrylate polymers (FTACPs) are a class of side-chain fluorinated polymers used for a variety of commercial applications. The degradation of FTACPs through ester hydrolysis, cleavage of the polymer backbone, or both could serve as a significant source of perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs). The biodegradation of FTACPs was evaluated in a soil-plant microcosm over 5.5 months in the absence/presence of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) biosolids using a unique FTACP determined to be a homopolymer of 8:2 fluorotelomer acrylate (8:2 FTAC). Although structurally different from commercial FTACPs, the unique FTACP possesses 8:2 fluorotelomer side chain appendages bound to the polymer backbone via ester moieties. Liberation and subsequent biodegradation of the 8:2 fluorotelomer appendages was indirectly determined by monitoring for PFCAs of varying chain lengths (C6-C9) and known fluorotelomer intermediates by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A FTACP biodegradation half-life range of 8-111 years was inferred from the 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH) equivalent of the unique FTACP and the increase of degradation products. The progress of FTACP biodegradation was also directly monitored qualitatively using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI-TOF) time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The combination of indirect and direct analysis indicated that the model FTACP biodegraded predominantly to perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) in soils and at a significantly higher rate in the presence of a plant and WWTP biosolids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto , 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario Canada , M5S 3H6.
authors.forename: Keegan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rankin
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Pablo J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mabury
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers; D006207:Half-Life; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D011108:Polymers; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C540553:fluorotelomer acrylate polymers