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3860085 
Journal Article 
Organic fluorine content in aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs) and biodegradation of the foam component 6: 2 fluorotelomermercaptoalkylamido sulfonate (6: 2 FTSAS) 
Weiner, B; Yeung, LeoWY; Marchington, EB; D'Agostino, LA; Mabury, SA 
2013 
Yes 
Environmental Chemistry
ISSN: 1448-2517
EISSN: 1449-8979 
10 
6 
486-493 
WOS:000328650700005 
Eleven aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) samples that were used to extinguish fires in Ontario, Canada, and one commercial product, were analysed using a variety of analytical techniques to obtain structural information and quantities of organofluorine and known perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). The NMR spectra of the foams distinguished the fluorosurfactants that were synthesised by either electrochemical fluorination or telomerisation. Total organofluorine content was quantified using total organofluorine-combustion ion chromatography (TOF-CIC), which revealed that the samples contained from 475 to 18000 mu gFmL(-1). The common AFFF component 6:2 fluorotelomermercaptoalkylamido sulfonate (FTSAS) was quantified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) together with perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs), perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) and fluorotelomer sulfonates (FTSAs); in five samples, 6:2 FTSAS was present in concentrations greater than 1000 mu gmL(-1). By comparing the concentrations of these quantifiable fluorochemicals with the total organofluorine content, it was evident that in half of the AFFF samples, less than 10% of the fluorochemicals were identified; in two of the samples, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) accounted for similar to 50% of the total organofluorine content. Our degradation experiment with 6:2 FTSAS using waste-water treatment plant sludge showed that 6:2 FTSAS was a potential source of FTSAs, fluorotelomer alcohols and PFCAs in the environment.