Gas phase UV and IR absorption spectra of CF3CH2CH2OH and F(CF2CF2)xCH2CH2OH (x=2, 3, 4)

Atmospheric perfluorinated acid precursors: chemistry, occurrence, and impacts

Perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) can be found from the hydrolysis of perfluoroacyl fluorides and chlorides, which can be produced in three separate ways in the atmosphere. Alternatively, PFCAs can be formed directly in the gas phase through reaction of perfluoroacyl peroxy radicals or perfluorinated aldehyde hydrates. All five mechanisms have been elucidated using smog chamber techniques. Yields of the PFCAs from this process vary from less than 10% to greater than 100%, depending on the mechanism. The formation of perfluorosulfonic acids in the atmosphere can also occur, though the mechanism has not been entirely elucidated. A large number of compounds have been confirmed as perfluorinated acid precursors, including CFC-replacement compounds, anesthetics, fluorotelomer compounds, and perfluorosulfonamides. Levels of some of these compounds have been measured in the atmosphere, but concentration for the majority have yet to be detected. It is clear that atmospheric oxidation of volatile precursors contributes to the overall burden of PFAs, though the extent to which this occurs is compound and environment dependent and is difficult to assess accurately.

Heterogeneous Uptake of 8−2 Fluorotelomer Alcohol on Liquid Water and 1-Octanol Droplets

The heterogeneous uptake of the 8-2 fluorotelomer alcohol, F(CF2)8CH2CH2OH, on liquid water surfaces over the temperature range 256-273 K and on 1-octanol surfaces over the temperature range 264-295 K has been investigated with a droplet train flow reactor. The uptake coefficient on water droplets is zero within the error of the measurement (+/-0.01) and is independent of droplet temperature. In contrast, significant uptake onto 1-octanol is observed. Measured uptake coefficients for 1-octanol showed a negative temperature dependence, varying from 0.034 +/- 0.005 (1sigma) at 295 K to 0.103 +/- 0.009 at 264 K. The measured uptake coefficients on 1-octanol were independent of gas-liquid contact time, for typical contact times varying between 3 and 15 ms, and independent of the 8-2 fluorotelomer alcohol gas-phase concentration, indicating that the uptake coefficients are equivalent to mass accommodation coefficients. The uptake coefficients on 1-octanol were also independent of relative humidity. These results show that the uptake of FTOHs on or into the aqueous component of cloud/fog droplets or aqueous aerosol particles is not likely to be an important atmospheric sink for these compounds. In these experiments, 1-octanol was used as a model compound for organic-containing atmospheric particles. The larger uptake coefficient measured for 1-octanol surfaces indicates that FTOH partitioning to organic-containing cloud/fog droplets and aerosol particles may be an atmospheric loss mechanism.