Fluorinated Surfactants in Biological Systems

The methods used for the determination of fluorinated surfactants in biological samples can be divided into two groups (1) the determination of organic fluorine, which represents the concentration of a fluorinated surfactant if other flu-orochemicals are absent, and (2) a specific method for the fluorinated surfactant of interest. 

The determination of organic fluorine in biological samples, such as whole blood, serum, and plasma, involves destruction of organic matter by combustion 

The direct determination of fluorinated surfactants is possible if the fluorinated surfactant is amenable to chromatography or spectroscopy. Belisle and Hagen [46] determined perfluorooctanoic acid in blood, urine, and liver tissue. Perfluorooctanoic acid was extracted from blood or other biological samples with hexane in the presence of hydrochloric acid and converted to its methyl ester with diazomethane. The recovery of known amounts of perfluorooctanoic acid added to human plasma was essentially quantitative. The precision of the method was inferior to that of the determination of perfluorooctanoic acid by elemental fluorine analysis but could probably be improved by using a capillary chromatographic column instead of the packed column used by the authors. 

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Chapter 1 presents an overview of fluorinated surfactants. The synthesis of fluorinated surfactants is discussed in Chapter 2. Since the space limitations precluded a detailed description of processes, patent citations are augmented by references to Chemical Abstracts. Physical and chemical properties are reviewed in Chapter 3. Chapters 4-7 are devoted to the theory of fluorinated surfactants liquid-vapor and liquid-liquid interface (Chapter 4), solid-liquid interface (Chapter 5), solutions of fluorinated surfactants (Chapter 6), and the structure of micelles and mesophases, including mixed surfactant systems, in Chapter 7. The practical application of fluorinated surfactants is the subject of Chapter 8. Various applications are listed in alphabetical order for easy access to information. Chapter 9 reviews the analytical and physical methods for the investigation of fluorinated surfactants. Chapter 10 examines the environmental and toxicological aspects, including the use of fluorinated surfactants in biological systems. 

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