TY - JOUR

T1 - In situ air-water and particle-water partitioning of perfluorocarboxylic acids, perfluorosulfonic acids and perfluorooctyl sulfonamide at a wastewater treatment plant

AU - Vierke, Lena

AU - Ahrens, Lutz

AU - Shoeib, Mahiba

AU - Palm, Wolf-Ulrich

AU - Webster, Eva M.

AU - Ellis, David A.

AU - Ebinghaus, Ralf

AU - Harner, Tom

PY - 2013/8

Y1 - 2013/8

N2 - In situ measurements of air and water phases at a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) were used to investigate the partitioning behavior of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs) and perfluorooctyl sulfonamide (HFOSA) and their conjugate bases (PFC -s, PFS -s, and FOSA -, respectively). Particle-dissolved (R d) and air-water (Q AW) concentration ratios were determined at different tanks of a WWTP. Sum of concentrations of C 4-12, 14 PFC(A)s, C 4,6,8,10 PFS(A)s and (H)FOSA were as high as 50pgm -3 (atmospheric gas phase), 2300ngL -1 (aqueous dissolved phase) and 2500ngL -1 (aqueous particle phase). Particle-dissolved concentration ratios of total species, log R d, ranged from -2.9 to 1.3 for PFS(A)s, from -1.9 to 1.1 for PFC(A)s and was 0.71 for (H)FOSA. These field-based values agree well with equilibrium partitioning data reported in the literature, suggesting that any in situ generation from precursors, if they are present in this system, occurs at a slower rate than the rate of approach to equilibrium. Acid Q AW were also estimated. Good agreement between the Q AW and the air-water equilibrium partition coefficient for C 8PFCA suggests that the air above the WWTP tanks is at or near equilibrium with the water. Uncertainties in these Q AW values are attributed mainly to variability in pK a values reported in the literature. The WWTP provides a unique environment for investigating environmental fate processes of the PFCAs and PFSAs under 'real' conditions in order to better understand and predict their fate in the environment.

AB - In situ measurements of air and water phases at a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) were used to investigate the partitioning behavior of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs) and perfluorooctyl sulfonamide (HFOSA) and their conjugate bases (PFC -s, PFS -s, and FOSA -, respectively). Particle-dissolved (R d) and air-water (Q AW) concentration ratios were determined at different tanks of a WWTP. Sum of concentrations of C 4-12, 14 PFC(A)s, C 4,6,8,10 PFS(A)s and (H)FOSA were as high as 50pgm -3 (atmospheric gas phase), 2300ngL -1 (aqueous dissolved phase) and 2500ngL -1 (aqueous particle phase). Particle-dissolved concentration ratios of total species, log R d, ranged from -2.9 to 1.3 for PFS(A)s, from -1.9 to 1.1 for PFC(A)s and was 0.71 for (H)FOSA. These field-based values agree well with equilibrium partitioning data reported in the literature, suggesting that any in situ generation from precursors, if they are present in this system, occurs at a slower rate than the rate of approach to equilibrium. Acid Q AW were also estimated. Good agreement between the Q AW and the air-water equilibrium partition coefficient for C 8PFCA suggests that the air above the WWTP tanks is at or near equilibrium with the water. Uncertainties in these Q AW values are attributed mainly to variability in pK a values reported in the literature. The WWTP provides a unique environment for investigating environmental fate processes of the PFCAs and PFSAs under 'real' conditions in order to better understand and predict their fate in the environment.

KW - Chemistry

KW - Fate

KW - Henry's-law

KW - KAW

KW - Kd

KW - PFCA

KW - PFSA

KW - Sustainability Science

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84880044259&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.02.067

DO - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.02.067

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 23561570

AN - SCOPUS:84880044259

VL - 92

SP - 941

EP - 948

JO - Chemosphere

JF - Chemosphere

SN - 0045-6535

IS - 8

ER -