Structure-Specific Aerobic Defluorination of Short-Chain Fluorinated Carboxylic Acids by Activated Sludge Communities

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00511
• Publication Date: 2021-07-26T17:42:23Z
• Authors: Shun Che; Bosen Jin; Zekun Liu; Yaochun Yu; Jinyong Liu; Yujie Men
• Keywords: Cometabolism; Biotransformation

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of manmade chemicals that impose emerging environmental concerns. Among them, short-chain per- polyfluorinated carboxylic acids represent an important subgroup used as building blocks biologically active functional materials. Some also considered PFAS alternatives, some could be byproducts the physicochemical treatment PFAS. However, little is known about fate fluorinated (FCAs) their defluorination/transformation by microorganisms. To fill knowledge gap, we investigated structure-reactivity relationships in aerobic defluorination C3-C5 FCAs activated sludge communities. Four structures exhibited greater than 20% defluorination, with 3,3,3-trifluoropropionic acid being almost completely defluorinated. We further analyzed pathways inferred susceptible to microbial defluorination. demonstrated was via cometabolism. The findings advance fundamental understanding help assess Since PFAS, such acid, incomplete advanced reduction processes, communities sheds light on development cost-effective chemical-biological train systems.