6:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol aerobic biotransformation in activated sludge from two domestic wastewater treatment plants
Abstract
6:2 Fluorotelomer alcohol [6:2 FTOH, F(CF2)6CH2CH2OH] is a major basic chemical being used to manufacture FTOH-based products. After the end of use, 6:2 FTOH-based products may be released to domestic wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as a first major environmental entry point. Activated sludge collected from two WWTPs was dosed with 6:2 FTOH to investigate its biotransformation rate and to identify major transformation products. The volatile 5:2 sFTOH [F(CF2)5CH(OH)CH3] is the most abundant transformation product and accounted for an average of 40mol% of initially dosed 6:2 FTOH after two months of incubation with activated sludge, with 30mol% detected in the headspace. PFPeA [F(CF2)4COOH] averaged 4.4mol% after two months, 2.4-7 times lower than that in sediment and soils. The much lower level of PFPeA formed in activated sludge compared with soil indicates that microbial populations in activated sludge may lack enzymes or suitable environment conditions to promote rapid 5:2 sFTOH decarboxylation to form PFPeA, resulting in more 5:2 sFTOH partitioned to the headspace. PFHxA [F(CF2)5COOH] and 5:3 [F(CF2)5CH2CH2COOH] acid are major non-volatile transformation products in activated sludge. For example, PFHxA averaged 11mol% after two months, which is about 30% higher compared with sediment and soils, suggesting that microbes in WWTPs may utilize similar pathways as that in sediment and soils to convert 5:2 sFTOH to PFHxA. 5:3 Acid averaged 14mol% after two months, comparable to that in soils and slightly lower than in sediment, further confirming that 5:3 acid is a unique product of 6:2 FTOH biotransformation in the environment.
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Many studies reported that in biological treatment polyfluoroalkyl precursors including FOSA, FOSAA, FtOH, FTSA and FTS can degrade to shorter chain PFAS such as PFOA, PFOS and PFHxA, leading to an increase of total PFAS in effluent.
“Many studies reported that in biological treatment poly fl uoroalkyl precursor including FOSA, FOSAA, FtOH, FTSA and FTS can degrade to shorter chain PFAS such as PFOA, PFOS and PFHxA, leading to an increase of total PFAS in ef fl uent (Lenka et al., 2021; Zhao et al., 2013).”
From Occurrence of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances in wastewater treatment plants in Northern Italy (2023) · cites this paper as Zhao et al., 2013
The increase of PFAAs has been attributed to degradation of PFAS precursor compounds, FTS and FOTH, which have been shown to transform to stable PFAAs in WWTP sludge.
“The increase of PFAAs has been attributed to the degradation of the PFAS precursor compounds [32, 33], fluorotelomer sulfonoates (FTS) and fluorotelomer alcohols (FOTH), that have been shown to transform to stable PFAAs in WWTP sludge [34, 35].”
From An investigation into per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in nineteen Australian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) (2019) · cites this paper as [34]
Little transformation of 6:2 FTOH to PFPeA was observed as the intermediary product 5:2s FTOH was likely volatilized before biotransformation could occur.
“Little transformation of 6:2 FTOH to PFPeA was observed as the intermediary product 5:2s FTOH was likely volatilized before biotransformation could occur.”
From An investigation into per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in nineteen Australian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) (2019) · cites this paper as [34]
Degradation of 6:2 FTOH in activated sludge has been demonstrated to produce the corresponding 5:3 acid, which is then degraded further to PFHxA.
“Furthermore, degradation of the compound 6:2 FTOH in activated sludge has been demonstrated to produce the corresponding 5:3 acid, which is then degraded further to PFHxA [34].”
From An investigation into per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in nineteen Australian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) (2019) · cites this paper as [34]
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- Authors
- Zhao, L., McCausland, P. K., Folsom, P. W., Wolstenholme, B. W., Sun, H., Wang, N., & Buck, R. C.
- Affiliations
- Nankai University (CN)
- DuPont (United States) (US)
- Corresponding author
- Sun, Hongwen
- Wang, Ning
- Venue
- Chemosphere
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-07
- Volume
- 92
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 464-470
- ISSN
- 0045-6535 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2026895920
- Cited by
- 82
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 4.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Chemosphere (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Environmental Chemistry and Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Keywords
- fluorotelomer alcohols, activated sludge, aerobic biotransformation, degradation intermediates, PFPeA, perfluorohexanoic acid, decarboxylation, domestic wastewater treatment, PFAS degradation
- MeSH terms
- Aerobiosis, Biodegradation, Environmental, Biotransformation, Caproates, Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Fluorocarbons, Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated, Sewage, Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Waste Disposal Facilities
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