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Degradation Testing of Fluorotelomer-based polymers (FTPs)
Citation:
Libelo, L., D. Lynch, C. Fehrenbacher, A. Mamantov, Joseph Ford, W. Lee, D. Tobias, AND J. Washington. Degradation Testing of Fluorotelomer-based polymers (FTPs). SETAC North America 36th Annual Meeting, Salt Lake, UT, November 01 - 05, 2015.
Impact/Purpose:
Presented at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America 36th Annual Meeting
Description:
Over the last decade, concern about sources of per and polyfluorochemicals (PFCs) have led to an increasing need for information on the microbial and/or abiotic degradation of polymer materials that contain PFC structural fragments that may be released. EPA, OECD, ASTM and other test protocols were not specifically designed to test polymers and similar chemicals. Initial studies on polymer degradation proved to be challenging and provided limited useful data. Incremental changes in how studies are conducted, incorporating lessons learned over time as additional studies are designed, conducted and evaluated, have allowed the EPA and the regulated community to design studies that provide more directly applicable results.Biodegradation, hydrolysis and photolysis studies have required significant modifications to existing protocols including approaches for quantification and clean-up of residual monomers, characterization and introduction of test material, extraction procedures for test media and vessels, analytical methods for degradation intermediates and products, test duration, test vessel design, volatiles collection and quantification, and other test details. Examples of testing that deviated from standard protocols, compared to those that adhered closely to standard guidelines, can be used to illustrate modifications that enhance the value of data generated. Study designs are still being modified as each new set of results provides a better understanding of how to conduct these studies.
