Biotransformation of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) in sulfur-rich media by Trametopsis cervina

Abstract

● Biotransformation of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) can occur in S-rich media.

● Both stable and intermediate products were identified from the biotransformation of 6:2 FTS.

● Mass loss due to volatile intermediate PFASs can be theoretically estimated.

● Volatile PFAS may represent a significant portion of 6:2 FTS transformation products.

Biotransformation of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) by two species of white-rot fungi, Pleurotus ostreatus (P. ostreatus) and Trametopsis cervina (T. cervina), was investigated in a sulfur-rich medium designed to stimulate production of lignin-degrading enzymes. Degradation of 6:2 FTS was observed by T. cervina over the study period of 30 d, but not by P. ostreatus. Biotransformation rates were comparable to those found in other studies investigating mixed culture degradation in non-sulfur limiting media, with approximately 50 mol% of applied 6:2 FTS removed after 30 d. Stable transformation products were short-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), including PFHxA (2.27 mol%), PFPeA (0.24 mol%), and PFBA (0.28 mol%). The main intermediate products include 5:2 sFTOH (16.3 mol%) and 5:3 FTCA (2.99 mol%), while 6:2 FTCA, 6:2 FTuCA, and 5:2 ketone were also identified at low levels. Approximately 60 mol% of detected products were assigned to the major pathway to 5:2 ketone, and 40 mol% were assigned to the minor pathway to 5:3 FTCA. The overall molar balance was found to decrease to 75 mol% by Day 30, however, was closed to near 95 mol% with a theoretical estimation for the volatile intermediates in the headspace, 5:2 ketone and 5:2 sFTOH. The different capabilities of the two white-rot fungal species for 6:2 FTS biotransformation in sulfur-rich media suggest that the enzyme processes of T. cervina to de-sulfonate 6:2 FTS may be unrelated to sulfur metabolism.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

White-rot fungus / 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) / Biotransformation / Sulfur-rich medium / Intermediate products

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