Polyfluorinated chemicals

Polyfluorinated chemicals now dominate in the fields of oil-repellent and water-repellent finishes. The earlier so-called conventional polyfluorinated products were of the type represented by poly(N-methylperfluoro-octanesulphonamidoethyl acrylate) (10.248) [499]. Such products presented a shield of closely packed fluoroalkyl groups at the fibre-air interface, thus giving low-energy surfaces with excellent oleophobicity. These showed excellent resistance to oil-based stains but were less satisfactory as soil-release agents during... 

EUis, D. A., Mabury, S. A. Chemical ionization pathways of polyfluorinated chemicals - a connection to environmental atmospheric processes. J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom., 14 1177-1191 (2003). 

Mass Spectrometric Approaches to Reveal Biotransformation Products from Per- and Polyfluorinated Chemicals... 

Abstract In the past years, elucidation of transformation products of per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFC) has been a task frequently approached by analytical chemists. PCT, such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are persistent and thus, the analytical quest to detect transformation products has failed so far. Their prominence as contaminants is mainly due to their extreme persistence, which is linked to their perfluoroalkyl chain length. Molecules that are less heavily fluorinated can show very complex metabolic behavior, as is the case for fluorotelomer alcohols. These compounds are degraded via different but simultaneous pathways, which produce different stable metabolites. Biotransformation processes of PFC may occur when these compounds enter the environment, and thus known and unknown PFC may be generated in these compartments. Therefore, it is essential to determine metabolic pathways of such compounds in order to entirely understand their fate in the environment. This chapter summarizes methodological approaches and instmmental setups which have been implemented in biotransformation studies of PFC and focuses on mass spectrometric methods and the separation techniques coupled to the mass spectrometer (MS). Valuable MS approaches that have not been frequently used in studies on PFC are presented as well. Since compounds carrying C-F bonds exhibit unique properties, these will be initially presented to address the meaning of these properties both for analytical tasks and for the setup of biotransformation experiments. 

Keywords CID Fragmentation Mass spectrometry Per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFC)... 

Polyfluorinated Chemicals in European Surface Waters, Ground- and Drinking Waters... 

Abstract Polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), especially short chain fluorinated alkyl sulfonates and carboxylates, are ubiquitously found in the environment. This chapter aims at giving an overview of PFC cOTicentrations found in European surface, ground- and drinking waters and their behavior during conventional water treatment steps. 

Keywords Drinking water Monitoring Polyfluorinated chemicals Water treatment... 

The description in the literature of the different processes and sorption parameters still is vague and sometimes contradicting. However, it appears that the regeneration rate of GAC columns and the contact time of the water with the activated carbon are important parameters in the efficient removal of PFCs from water. For further detailed information on water treatment options for PFC removal see Chap. Treatment options for the Removal and Degradation of Polyfluorinated Chemicals of this book. 

Treatment Options for the Removal and Degradation of Polyfluorinated Chemicals... 

With this edition of The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry Polyfluorinated Chemicals and Transformation Products we aim to give an overview of the recent state of the art. Polyfluorinated chemicals (PFC) are widespread substances with effective and measurable effects to environment and economy. Topics, such as synthesis and application, analysis and degradation as well as environmental aspects, food and toxicity are spotlighted. 

Other chemicals found in the clothes were phthalates, commonly used as softeners in plastics and PVC products per- or polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) used to make water-repellent fabrics and antimony used in making synthetic fibres. 

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