| Fluorotelomer (FT)-based acrylate polymers have applications in textile, upholstery, carpet, and apparel and leather industries as components of surface protecting coatings. Currently, there is concern that these polymers may be a potential indirect source of perfluoro-carboxylic acids (PFCAs) in the environment. To address this concern, the current thesis investigated the lability of the ester linkages of a model FT-based acrylate polymer in two potential environmental compartments: sewage wastewater, and surface waters. The in-house synthesized model FT-based acrylate polymer was characterized by 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-ToF. Potential degradation products including FT alcohols and PFCAs were analyzed by GC-MS and LC-MS/MS respectively. Also, polymer degradation was monitored by 19F NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-ToF. Evidence of FT polymer degradation was observed in the hydrolysis and wastewater studies, suggesting that FT-polymer degradation potentially contributes to the PFCA burden in the environment. |
