Document x5BYKY91OMRjwkw3BEY9BpMJJ

"Roger J. Zipfel" < ZIPFEL@WWPS-A1 .EMAILDUPONT.COM > on 09/14/99 04:54:24 PM To: Roger J Zipfel/AE/DuPont cc: Subject: (C-8 BIODEGRADATION/26-Feb-1995)TFA & C-8 BIODEGRADATION BY M C3 ysa -J pi -T3 o Date: Sat, 25 Feb 1995 17:33:00 EDT * From: "VINCI M. FELIX" <FELIXVM@JLCL01-A1.EMAIL.DUPONT.COM> Subject: TFA & C-8 BIODEGRADATION BY MMO SYSTEM STUDY To: "Robert W. Soplop" <SOPLOPRW@ENGG.dnet.dupont.com>, JOHN MIGLIORE <MIGLIOJM@wwps-al.email.dupont.com>, KATHY L CHAPMAN <CHAPMAKL@wwps-al.email.dupont.com>, "Edward K. Sakata" <SAKATAEK@JLCL01-A1.EMAIL.DUPONT.COM>, "WALTER M. STEWART" <STEWART@wwps-a1.email.dupont.com>, DANIEL WEBER <WEBERDA@wwps-al.email.dupont.com>, Rik A Brandenburg <BRANDERA@EUOIS2-Al.EMAIL.DUPONT.COM>, "Roger J. Zipfel" <ZIPFEL@wwps-al.email.dupont.com>, "Charles B. Wagner" <WAGNERCB@JLCL01-A1.EMAIL.DUPONT.C0M>, ROBERT L RITCHEY <RITCHERL@ISCDCVM1>, "JOANNE M. SMITH" <SMITHJM@CSOC-Al.EMAIL.DUPONT.COM>, Harm Benjamins <BENJAMH@EU0IS2-A1.EMAIL.DUPONT.COM>, "A. Charles Sobrero" <SOBRERAC@EUOIS2-Al.EMAIL.DUPONT.COM>, "PAUL(PK) MATHUR" <MATHURPK@wwps-al.email.dupont.com> , "F. Anthony Vogelsberg Jr." <VOGELSFA@ISCDCVM5>, "Wendel R. Cassel" <CASSELWR@JLCL01-A1.EMAIL.DUPONT.COM>, DAVID A HOLMES <HOLMSDA@ISCDCVMl> Cc: "VINCI M. FELIX" <FELIXVM@JLCL01-A1.EMAIL.DUPONT.COM> MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: MULTIPART/MIXED; BOUNDARY="Boundary_(ID_4J/OvMy94JiVhetTBQkOOQ) " Delivery-date: Sun, 26 Feb 1995 08:08:00 EDT Posting-date: Sun, 26 Feb 1995 07:51:00 EDT Importance: normal Al-type: MAIL Fyi, AFEAS TFA (Trifluoroacetate) Biopanel has endorsed DuPont's (Martin Odom) suggestion to include in the biodegradation study, untried organisms .... such as "bacteria capable of exhibiting the methane monooxygenase system (MMO) are the best (most likely to succeed in showing breakdown) group of organisms to investigate"(see attached EM). TFA is a common product of tropospheric hydroxyl radical attack of HCFCs and HFCs - this has business impact on HFC-134a, etc. Martin is a lead DuPont biologist assigned to the TFA program. Earlier, in response to my request, Martin reviewed and assessed Envirogen, Inc.'s (Proprietary/Unpublished Work, September 1994): "A Bioremediation System for the Degradation of Ozone-Depletion Substances", this work showed MMO system which is present in many methanotrophic (methane-oxidizing) bacterial strains degraded a number of halogenated compounds (HCFC, HFC, etc.). Through Envirogen's work, we made the suggestion EID937973 000035 zsrHhviM * to the Biopanel to use the MMO system in the investigation of TFA. (Note: Several of you have seen/received/read a copy of Envirogen's report). I have also discussed with Martin potential application of MMO system for C-8 (ammonium perfluoro-octanoate) degradation, and Envirogen's capabilities - a high caliber/small biotechnology company, strong in both R&D and commercialization of products such as bioreactors, biofilters, etc. Martin is supportive of MMO system and working with Envirogen on C-8, TFA & other fluorochemicals if FLPR would be interested. Martin & I agreed that the stakes are high to find bacteria(s) to biodegrade TFA, C-8, and other fluorochemicals. DuPont certainly could play an important role, especially if DuPont could come up with new discovery or invention in this area. Our FLPR ES&IT will review the C-8 at our next meeting on March 6th. We could also discuss TFA. PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS & SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHETHER YOU SUPPORT A BIODEGRADATION APPROACH THROUGH LEVERAGING WITH ENVIROGEN, INC. Thanks! Vinci Date: Fri, 24 Feb 1995 05:03:00 EDT From: "J. Martin Odom" <ODOMJM@ESVAX-Al.EMAIL.DUPONT.COM> Subject: RE: TFA & C-8/MMO STUDY: DUPONT/ENVIROGEN JOINT DEVELOP. EFFORT? To: "VINCI M. FELIX" <FELIXVM@JLCL01-A1.EMAIL.DUPONT.COM> MIME-version: 1.0 - Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Posting-date: Fri, 24 Feb 1995 05:53:00 EDT Importance: normal Al-type: MAIL Dear Vinci, Currently, we do not know if TFA is biodegradable. The very compelling data which appeared in the June 1994 issue of Nature appears not to be reproducible -even in the hands of the people who originally reported the results. The AFEAS TFA biopanel is looking to DuPont for leadership on how to proceed on a) resolution of the "Nature results" and b) how we might explore other, unrelated, areas of microbiology which have not been adequately investigated at this time. In response, I have suggested that bacteria capable of exhibiting the methane monooxygenase system (MMO) are the best ( most likely to succeed in showing breakdown) group of organisms to investigate in this context. The Biopanel endorsed this suggestion. The Envirogen work, which you brought to my attention, explores the reactivity of the MMO system with a number of fluorinated EID937974 C00036 KJZO14288 compounds. Some positive results were obtained in these studies and while they are necessarily predictive of results with TFA (or C8) I beleive that that, on the whole, they are supportive of further investigation of defluorination reactions by the MMO system. Inclusion of tests for TFA and C8 degradation along with studies of other fluorochemicals would make sense and be an important and welcome contribution. Potentially, my laboratory could assist or collaborate in terms of supplying information or if necessary, TFA analytical help, in any effort that might go forward if costs of the additional work becomes a factor. I hope that we can make something happen on this, the TFA biodegradation question is very much in the air right now and I need to move on it. Martin 6XcH07f>| EED937975 000037