Degradation of Perfluoroalkyl Ether Carboxylic Acids with Hydrated Electrons: Structure–Reactivity Relationships and Environmental Implications
Michael J. Bentel, Yaochun Yu, Lihua Xu, Hyuna Kwon, Li Zhong, Bryan M. Wong, Yujie Men, Jinyong Liu
Abstract
- moieties. This impact reduces the formation of H/F-exchanged polyfluorinated products that are recalcitrant to reductive defluorination. Instead, the cleavage of ether C-O bonds generates unstable perfluoroalcohols and thus promotes deep defluorination of short fluoroalkyl moieties. In comparison to linear PFECAs, branched PFECAs have a higher tendency of H/F exchange on the tertiary carbon and thus lower percentages of defluorination. These findings provide mechanistic insights for an improved design and efficient degradation of fluorochemicals.
Topics & Concepts
EtherChemistryReactivity (psychology)Dissociation (chemistry)Bond cleavageCarboxylic acidPhotochemistryDegradation (telecommunications)Organic chemistryPolymer chemistryCatalysisTelecommunicationsPathologyAlternative medicineMedicineComputer sciencePer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchToxic Organic Pollutants ImpactAtmospheric chemistry and aerosols