PARENT SESSION

1B+C Abiotic Transformation
Hall 9
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Monday, 28 April 2003
Chair: Peijnenburg, W.¹, ¹
Co-chair: Jafvert, C.T.², Gombar, V.K.³, ^{2 3}

(MO9/6) Biotransformation of the fluorotelomer 8-2 Telomer B Alcohol (8-2 TBA) in bacterial culture.

Wang, Ning¹, Folsom, Patrick¹, Szostek, Bogdan², Capka, Vladimir², Larsen, Barbara¹, Gannon, John¹, Buck, Robert³, ¹ DuPont Central Research and Development, Newark, DE, USA² DuPont Haskell Laboratory, Newark, DE, USA³ DuPont Chemical Solutions Enterprise, Wilmington, DE, USA

ABSTRACT- The 8-2 Telomer B Alcohol[F(CF₂)₈CH ₂CH₂OH; CAS # 678-39-7] is a primary raw material and intermediate used in the synthesis of various telomer-based fluorinated surfactants and polymers which are used in a wide range of consumer products. This compound is postulated to be an environmental degradation product arising from telomer-based fluorinated surfactants and polymers. We have investigated the biodegradation of this substance to determine whether or not it is environmentally persistent and if metabolic pathways are available for its further biotransformation to other fluorinated species. The 8-2 Telomer B Alcohol is surface active, sorptive to certain surfaces, of low solubility in water and may be volatile. As such, test systems and sampling and analysis methods have been carefully established for these studies. Biotransformation with adapted and unadapted sludge cell cultures under modified aerobic ready and accelerated conditions have been investigated and analysis of transformation products conducted. The details of the test systems, substance handling and the results of the biotransformation studies under a range of test conditions will be discussed.

Key words: Biotransformation, Biodegradation, Fluorinated surfactants and polymers, Fluorotelomer