Low temperature thermal treatment of gas-phase fluorotelomer alcohols by calcium oxide

Given the extent to which per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used in commercial and industrial applications, the need to evaluate treatment options that reduce environmental emissions and human and ecological exposures of PFAS is becoming more necessary. One specific chemical class of PFAS, fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), have vapor pressures such that a significant fraction is expected to be present in the gas-phase even at ambient temperatures. FTOHs are used in a variety of PFAS applications, including synthesis and material coatings. Using two complementary mass spectrometric methods, the use of calcium oxide (CaO) was examined as a low temperature and potentially low-cost thermal treatment media for removal and destruction of four gas-phase FTOHs of varying molecular weights. This was accomplished by assessing the removal/destruction efficiency of the FTOHs and the formation of fluorinated byproducts as a function of treatment temperature (200–800 °C) in the presence of CaO compared to thermal-only destruction. During the treatment process, there is evidence that other PFAS compounds are produced at low temperatures (200–600 °C) as the primary FTOH partially degrades. At temperatures above 600 °C, thermal treatment with CaO prevented the formation or removed nearly all these secondary products. [Display omitted] •Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) are a volatile and commercially useful subset of PFAS.•Calcium oxide thermal treatment of gas-phase FTOHs was compared to heating alone.•FTOHs were destroyed more efficiently from thermal treatment with CaO.•At similar temperatures, CaO reduced secondary PFAS formation relative to thermal only.•FTOH treatment with CaO effectively reduced gas-phase hydrofluoric acid formation.