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3M Environmental Laboratory Biodegradation Studies
Executive Summaw of Biodepradation $tudies
3M has completed a series of studies of the biodegradability of various fluorochemical materials based on EPA Guidelines OPPTS 835.3200, OPPTS 835.3210 and/or OPPTS 835.5045. The purpose of these studies was to provide information regarding the biodegradability of these materials by aerobic microorganisms present in municipal wastewater treatment sludge. This information aids the understanding of the environmental fate of Perfluorooctanesulfonyl based chemistries.
Table 1 lists materials studied and their chemical abbreviations as well as report identification numbers. The studies are GLP-like; many GLP standards were used in the studies, and the quality assurance procedures followed were based on the practices described in the GLP documentation (40 CFR Part 792, TSCA).
Studies included the preparation of replicate sample cultures containing a mineral salts medium, an activated sludge inoculum and the test substance. Additionally, blank sludge controls, sterilelinhibited controls, positive controls, matrix spikes and blanks were used as appropriate to evaluate analytical results. After incubation for specific times, fluorochemical species were extracted from test cultures utilizing solid phase extraction. HPLCMS techniques provided identification and quantitation of the test substance and degradation proclucts. Molar mass balance was achieved indicating that all significant degradation products were identified.
This series of studies began with a 35-day study to identifl the biodegradation products of N-EtFOSE alcohol. Based on the results of the 35-day N-EtFOSE alcohol biodegradation test, a second 18-day studywas conducted to evaluate the biotransformation of each of the individual N-EtFOSE alcohol degradation products. NEtFOSE alcohol was also re-tested in this study. These results are reported separately.
Generally, the results of this second 18-day study were consistent with the 35-day N-
EtFOSE alcohol study.
In the follow-up studies, 9.3 % of the N-EtFOSAA was biotransformed over the course of 18 days to yield measurable quantities of M5$6, FOSA, PFOS and PFOA.
N-EtFOSA was biotransformed into M556, FOSA, PFOSuKmate, PFOS and PFOA. However, only 30-35% mass balance was attained.
The compound 34556 showed biotransformation to FOSA (major product), PFOSulfinate, PFOS and PFOA. After the 18-day incubation, 74% of the parent material remained in samples containing sludge with excellent mass balance.
As expected, FOSA was biotransformed to PFOSulfhte, PFOS and PFOA. 90% of the parent remained after incubation. Mass balance was excellent.
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3M Environmental Laboratory Biodegradation Studies PFOSulfmate formed PFOA in the abiotic controls, Samples of PFOSulfrnate that contained active sludge formed PFOS as the major product. Neither PFOS nor PFOA were biotransformed after 18 days of incubation. A separate 35-day study of I'FOS codinned this result. The analytical test results demonstrate that when exposed to municipal wastewater treatment sludge, the tested perfluorooctanesulfonyl-based chemicals degrade through a series of oxidation and dealkylation reactions to PFOS and PFOA. The proposed biodegradation pathway is as follows: N-EtFOSE-OH -+ N-EtFOSE aldehyde' -+ N-EtFOSAA 3 N-EtFOSA 3 N-EtFOSA
alcohol23 N-EtFOSA aldehyde3-+ M556 3 FOSA 3 PFOSulfimate -+ PFOA (abiotic
pathway) or PFOSulfmate-, PFOS (biotic pathway) Under conditions studied PFOS and PFOA were identified as likely endpoints in the biodegradation of EtFOSE alcohol based chemistries. Robust summaries and reports fiom studies of pertinent chemicals are attached.
1Proposed intermediate, CsFI,SO2N(C2H,)(CH2C0~ 2Proposedintermediate, C8F17S02NH(CH2CH20H) 3Proposedintermediate, CsFl7S02NH(CH2COH)
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3M Environmental Laboratory Biodegradation Studies
Table 1
Compound Name
I
2-(N-ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido)ethyl
alcohol
2-(N-Ethyl Perfluorooctane sulfonarnido) acetic
I
acid
N-Ethyl Perfluorooctanesulfonamide
2-(Perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetic acid
Perfluorooctane sulfonamide
Perfluorooctane sulfinate
Perfluorooctanoate
Perfluorooctanesulfonate
Acronym
N-EtFOSE-OH N-EtFOSAA N-EtFOSA
M556
FOSA PFOSulfinate
PFOA PFOS
Chemical Formula C~FI~SOZN(CZHS)(CHZCH~OH)
Laboratory Report Number
E00-2252, E01-0415
CaF17SOzN(C2H&)C( HzCOOH)
E01-0415
C8F17SOZNH(CZHS)
E01-0415
CaF17SOzNH(CHzCOOH)
E01-0415
CsFi7S02NHz CeF17S02' C7F&OO-
E01-0415
I
EO1-0415
EO1-0415
CaF17SO3-
E01-0415, E00-2252
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