Quantitative determination of fluorochemicals in municipal landfill leachates
Open accessAbstract
Twenty-four fluorochemicals were quantified in landfill leachates recovered from municipal refuse using an analytical method based on solid-phase extraction, dispersive-carbon sorbent cleanup, and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The method was applied to six landfill leachates from four locations in the US as well as to a leachate generated by a laboratory bioreactor containing residential refuse. All seven leachates had the common characteristic that short-chain (C(4)-C(7)) carboxylates or sulfonates were greater in abundance than their respective longer-chain homologs (≥ C(8)). Perfluoroalkyl carboxylates were the most abundant (67 ± 4% on a nanomolar (nM) basis) fluorochemicals measured in leachates; concentrations of individual carboxylates reaching levels up to 2800 ng L(-1). Perfluoroalkyl sulfonates were the next most abundant class (22 ± 2%) on a nM basis; their abundances in each of the seven leachates derived from municipal refuse were greater for the shorter-chain homologs (C(4) and C(6)) compared to longer-chain homologs (C(8) and C(10)). Perfluorobutane sulfonate concentrations were as high as 2300 ng L(-1). Sulfonamide derivatives composed 8 ± 2.1% (nM basis) of the fluorochemicals in landfill leachates with methyl (C(4) and C(8)) and ethyl (C(8)) sulfonamide acetic acids being the most abundant. Fluorotelomer sulfonates (6:2 and 8:2) composed 2.4 ± 1.3% (nM basis) of the fluorochemicals detected and were present in all leachates.
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The evaluated PFAA-precursors are intermediates in the conversion of other PFAA-precursors such as FTOH to terminal PFCAs and PFSAs.
“These evaluated precursors are considered as intermediates in the conversion of other PFAA-precursors such as fluorotelomer alcohol (FTOH) to terminal PFCAs and PFSAs (Hamid et al., 2020; Huset et al., 2011; Liu et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2013).”
From Evaluation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in leachate, gas condensate, stormwater and groundwater at landfills (2023) · cites this paper as Huset et al., 2011
Section 3.2.3 describes Me-FBSAA as a likely precursor to PFBS formed from Me-FBSE degradation, and identifies Et-FOSAA and Me-FOSAA as biodegradation products of other sulfonamidoethanols. This supports an intermediate-to-terminal-sulfonate pathway, but our copy does not establish the claimed FTOH pathway or conversion of these intermediates to terminal PFCAs. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredEvaluated PFAA-precursors in this study, like 5:3 FTCA, are considered intermediate precursors and can be converted from original precursors, like FTOH.
“Evaluated PFAA-precursors in this study, like 5:3 FTCA, are considered intermediate precursors and can be converted from original precursors, like FTOH”
From Evaluation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in leachate, gas condensate, stormwater and groundwater at landfills (2023) · cites this paper as Huset et al., 2011
Section 3.2.4 reports measurements of 6:2 and 8:2 fluorotelomer sulfonates, while section 3.2.3 discusses degradation of different sulfonamide compounds. Searches for 5:3 FTCA, FTOH, and their proposed conversion found no passage in our copy addressing the claimed precursor pathway. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPFAS concentrations in landfill leachate range from low ng/L to 100s of ng/L.
“PFAS concentrations in landfill leachate range from low ng/L to 100s of ng/L (Eggen et al., 2010;Huset et al., 2011;Clarke et al., 2015).”
From Septic systems as sources of organic wastewater compounds in domestic drinking water wells in a shallow sand and gravel aquifer (2016) · cites this paper as Huset et al., 2011
In general, perfluorocarboxylic acids (e.g., PFOA) are more abundant than perfluorosulfonic acids (e.g., PFOS) and shorter-chain PFASs are more abundant than longer-chain in landfill leachates, although individual landfills have different relative abundances.
“These studies show that in general, perfluorocarboxylic acids (e.g., PFOA) are more abundant than perfluorosulfonic acids (e.g., PFOS) and shorter-chain PFASs are more abundant than longer-chain, although individual landfills have different relative abundances.”
From Septic systems as sources of organic wastewater compounds in domestic drinking water wells in a shallow sand and gravel aquifer (2016) · cites this paper as Huset et al., 2011
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- Authors
- Huset, C. A., Barlaz, M. A., Barofsky, D. F., & Field, J. A.
- Affiliations
- Oregon State University (US)
- North Carolina State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Field, Jennifer A.
- Venue
- Chemosphere
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-03
- Volume
- 82
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1380-1386
- ISSN
- 0045-6535 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4153346
- OpenAlex
- W2084961182
- Cited by
- 184
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 4.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Chemosphere (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (P30ES000210, #P30-ES00210)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Landfill Environmental Impact Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Environmental and Analytical Chemistry Studies
- Keywords
- fluorochemicals, landfill leachate, municipal solid waste, perfluoroalkyl carboxylates, perfluoroalkyl sulfonates, PFBS, sulfonamide derivatives, fluorotelomer sulfonates, solid-phase extraction
- MeSH terms
- Caprylates, Chromatography, Liquid, Environmental Monitoring, Fluorocarbons, Refuse Disposal, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Water Pollution, Chemical, Alkanesulfonic Acids, Solid Phase Extraction, Tandem Mass Spectrometry
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