PFAS biodegradation by Labrys portucalensis F11: evidence of chain shortening and identification of metabolites of PFOS, 6:2 FTS, and 5:3 FTCA

The biodegradation of three per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), namely perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), 6:2-fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS), and 5:3-fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (5:3 FTCA), were evaluated using Labrys portucalensis F11, an aerobic bacteria known to defluorinate fluorine-containing compounds. Cultures of L. portucalensis F11 were grown in minimal salts media and treated with 10,000 μg/L of individual PFAS as the sole carbon source in separate flasks. In PFOS-spiked media, several metabolites were detected, including perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), and perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPrA). After 194-day incubation three de-fluorinated metabolites were identified: PFOS-F (m/z = 480.940, PFOS-2F (m/z = 462.980), and unsaturated PFOS-3F (m/z = 442.943). During the biodegradation of 5:3 FTCA, the following metabolites were observed: PFHxA, PFPeA, PFBA, PFPrA, and two fluorotelomer unsaturated carboxylic acids (5:3 FTUCA and 7:2 FTUCA). The biodegradation of 6:2 FTS was slower, with only 21 % decrease in concentration observed after 100 days, and subsequent formation of 4:2 FTS. On the contrary, 90 % of PFOS and 58 % of 5:3 FTCA were degraded after 100 days. These results indicate that L. portucalensis F11 can be potentially used for PFAS biodegradation in contaminated environments.