The fate of 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol in anaerobic landfill leachate: Implication for fugitive emission from waste landfills

Although 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) is a common compound in landfill leachate, its anaerobic biotransformation and partitioning remain poorly understood. This study investigated the anaerobic biotransformation and partitioning of 6:2 FTOH in landfill leachate microcosms. At the end of the experiment, 19.4 mol% of the initial 6:2 FTOH partitioned into the gas phase. Therefore, anaerobic leachate could represent a significant pathway for semi-volatile 6:2 FTOH to the landfill gas or enter the atmosphere. The anaerobic biotransformation of 6:2 FTOH in leachate conformed to the first-order bi-exponential degradation model and the half-life was 12 days. The 6:2 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (6:2 FTCA) was the main biotransformation product, accounting for 8 mol%. Moreover, microbial community composition showed the genus of Pseudomonas, DMER64, and Fastidiosipila may play a role in the biotransformation of 6:2 FTOH. This study elucidates the potential significance of biotransformation processes on both the partitioning and environmental fate of 6:2 FTOH within landfill leachate.