Abstract
Surfactants based on polyfluoroalkyl ethers are commonly used in fire-fighting foams on airport platforms, including for training sessions. Because of their persistence into the environment, their toxicity and their bioaccumulation, abnormal amounts can be found in ground and surface water following the operations of airport platforms. As with many other anthropogenic, organic compounds, some concerns are raised about their biodegradation. That is why the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 301 F protocol was implemented to monitor the oxygen consumption during the biodegradation of a commercial fire-fighting foam. However, a Raman spectroscopic monitoring of the process was also attached to this experimental procedure to evaluate to what extent a polyfluoroalkyl ether disappeared from the environmental matrix. Our approach relies on the use of chemometrics, such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares (PLS), in order to monitor the kinetics of the biodegradation reaction of one fire-fighting foam, Tridol S3B, containing a polyfluoroalkyl ether. This study provided a better appreciation of the partial biodegradation of some polyfluoroalkyl ethers by coupling Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics. This will ultimately facilitate the design of future purification and remediation devices for airport platforms.
Highlights
Water and/or soils pollution are extensively discussed in the literature, as well as the biodegradation of anthropogenic pollutants and their effects on the environment
We demonstrate a robust approach to monitor the biodegradation of a surfactant by Raman spectroscopy with a chemometrics approach
One polyfluoroalkyl ether was tested in this study, and was compliant with specifications given by the French Civil Aviation Department, concerning the compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements
Summary
Water and/or soils pollution are extensively discussed in the literature, as well as the biodegradation of anthropogenic pollutants and their effects on the environment. Fire-fighting fluids are added to water to generate solutions in the form of foams to ease the water spreadability in order to smother the fire, and its extinguishment, especially for fuel fires, using the low surface tension characteristics of the foam due to the presence of fluorinated molecules These fire-fighting foams must comply with the specifications related to the equipment to fight fire on/in aircrafts, and their conformity for their use on French airports is certified by the French Civil Aviation Department [13]. Fire-fighting foams are subject to specific rules [14] Because of these environmental rising concerns, the French Civil Aviation Department initiated an investigation on methods of the detection and quantification of such chemicals in aqueous solutions, included at low concentration, their fate in soils and vegetation, and their impact on the environment through the determination of their biodegradation and toxicity
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