Environ Health Toxicol.  2016 ;31(1):e2016002. 10.5620/eht.e2016002.

Study on the biodegradation of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and PFOS alternatives

• Choi B
• Na SH
• Son JH
• Shin DS
• Ryu BT
• Byeon KS
• Chung SY

• KMID: 2469658
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5620/eht.e2016002

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
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.

Keyword

Perfluorooctanesulfonate; Alternatives; Persistent organic pollutants

MeSH Terms

Gyeongsangnam-do
Humans
Korea
Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development
Sodium
Surface Tension
Sodium