US EPA

4238337 

Journal Article 

Enhanced generation of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) from fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) via ammonia-oxidation process 

Yu, X; Nishimura, F; Hidaka, T 

2018 

Yes 

Chemosphere
ISSN: 0045-6535
EISSN: 1879-1298 

198 

311-319 

English 

29421745 

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.01.132 

WOS:000427338800036 

With the phase-out of persistent, bioaccumalative, and toxic perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), it is needed to explore the potential release of PFCAs from precursors being emitted into the environment. Biotransformation of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) via biological processes in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) leads to discharge of PFCAs into receiving waters. However, the commonly existed microbial activity that can impact on FTOHs biodegradation in WWTPs remains unclear. The objective of present research was to explore the relationship between ammonia-oxidation process and the enhanced PFCAs generation from FTOHs biodegradation under aerobic activated sludge. The obtained results indicate that the cometabolism process performed by nitrifying microorganisms (NMs) was responsible for enhanced PFCAs generation. Among NMs, the ammonia-oxidation bacteria that can express non-specific enzyme of ammonia monooxygenases resulted in the enhanced PFCAs generation from FTOHs. Meanwhile, the different addition amount of ammonia contributed to different defluorination efficiency of FTOHs. The present study further correlated the enhanced PFCAs generation from FTOHs biodegradation with ammonia-oxidation process, which can provide practical information on effective management of PFCAs generation in WWTPs.