title: Study on the biodegradation of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and PFOS alternatives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we investigated the biodegradation features of 4 perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) alternatives developed at Changwon National University compared to those of PFOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biodegradation testing was performed with microorganisms cultured in the good laboratory practice laboratory of the Korea Environment Corporation for 28 days following the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines for the testing of chemicals (Test No. 301 C).
  
  
  RESULTS
  While C8F17SO3Na, PFOS sodium salt was not degraded after 28 days, the 4 alternatives were biodegraded at the rates of 20.9% for C15F9H21S2O8Na2, 8.4% for C17F9H 25S2O8Na2, 22.6% for C23F18H28S2O8Na2, and 23.6% for C25F17H32O13S3Na3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C25F17H32S3O13Na3, C23F18H28S2O8Na2, and C15F9H21S2O8Na2 were superior to PFOS in terms of biodegradation rates and surface tension, and thus they were considered highly applicable as PFOS alternatives. Environmental toxicity, human toxicity, and economic feasibility of these compounds should be investigated prior to their commercialization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Energy Engineering, Chonnam National University College of Engineering, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Bongin
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4563-8337
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Energy Engineering, Chonnam National University College of Engineering, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Suk-Hyun
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6148-7308
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Na
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Energy Engineering, Chonnam National University College of Engineering, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun-Hyo
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3611-7193
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Changwon National University, Changwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Soo
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7948-0419
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Environmental Safety Center, Korea Environmental Corporation, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Taek
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2931-6060
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Changwon National University, Changwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyun-Suk
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2097-3825
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Byeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Energy Engineering, Chonnam National University College of Engineering, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Seon-Yong
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8664-9625
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chung
keywords: Alternatives; Perfluorooctanesulfonate; Persistent organic pollutants