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TELOMERFLUOROSURFACTANTS
Background…
In May 2000,3M unexpectedly announced it was withdrawing from the manufacture of Light Water AFFF’s
AFFF = Aqueous Film Forming Foam
Background…
Research had shown that the 3M fluorosurfactant used in Light Water Foams had an environmental concern…
Background…
They were known to degrade in the environment to:
● PFOS
● PFOA
Perfluorooctyl sulfonate
Perfluorooctanoic acid
Background…
● PFOS
● PFOA
&
are:
● Bioaccumulative
● Persistent
● Toxic
Background…
Unlike 3M, almost all foam manufacturers use a process of telomerization
which produces a telomer-based fluorosurfactant
Background…
It is known that
Telomer-based fluorosurfactants
do not contain PFOS
It is not known
if they degrade into
PFOA
Background…
If they do degrade into PFOA,
they too would be classed as
● Bioaccumulative
● Persistent
● Toxic
Telomer Research…
In 2003, an EPA Work Group concluded:
Telomer-based AFFF agents
● are not made with PFOA
● contain no PFOA-based product
Telomer Research…
PFOA is an eight carbon molecule (C8)
Most telomer-based flurosurfactants are derived fromsix carbon molecules (C6)
Telomer Research…
There is no known pathwayfor C6 flurosurfactants to break down into PFOA
The EPA Work Group concluded:
Telomer Research…
However…This was considered to beincomplete research
● some telomer molecules with a carbon chain greater than C6 are currently used in some AFFF’s
, as:
In Europe :
InternationalLegislation…
● the manufacture of PFOS- based Foams is now prohibited
● any remaining stock is to be removed from use by June 2011
In Europe :
InternationalLegislation…
● the EU is committed in the future to assessing substitutes to PFOS-based foams
including telomer-based foams
However :
InternationalLegislation…
as telomer-based foams do not contain PFOS
no restriction is placed on their continued use
Buncefield DisasterHertfordshire Oil Storage Terminal
11th December 2005
In the USA, Fluorotelomer & fluorosurfactant manufacturers are required:
● by 2010
InternationalLegislation…
to reduce by 95%
emissions & product content of
● PFOA ● chemicals that can degrade to PFOA
In the USA,
InternationalLegislation…
Fluorotelomer & fluorosurfactant manufacturers are required:
● by 2015to achieve eliminationof production of
● PFOA ● chemicals that can degrade to PFOA
As mentioned,
The move to C6 &environmentally friendly
fluorosurfactants
Fluorotelomer & fluorosurfactant manufacturers in the USA are committed to remove
● all chemicals containing PFOA
● all chemicals that can degrade to PFOA
As a result,
The move to C6 &environmentally friendly
fluorosurfactants
Telomer molecules with a carbon chain greater than C6
will effectively no longer be available for use
The move to C6 &environmentally friendly
fluorosurfactantsAs discussed, research to date has concluded:
There is no known pathwayfor C6 flurosurfactants to break down into PFOA
The move to C6 &environmentally friendly
fluorosurfactantsAccordingly, the way is now clear for foam manufacturers to begin developing AFFF’s
with C6 fluorosurfactant telomer molecules
Conclusion:
What does the future hold ?
The future :Requalifications
Foam Manufacturers, including Oil Technics, are researching & developingC6-based AFFF formulations
The future :Requalifications
These new formulations must meet International Standards:
● UL 162
● EN 1568
● ICAO Level B
● MIL-F 24385F
The future :Requalifications
It is expected that the new foamswill require to be requalified for these International Standards:
The future :Requalifications
Achieving theInternational Standardsassures users that the new C6 foams
are as effective as existing Fire Fighting Foams
The future :Protein Foams
Currently,
C6 telomers for certain Protein Foam formulations
have not been developed … yet !
The future :Foam Training
Current recommendations remain:
& System Calibration
use Fluorine Free Mimic / Training Foam for● Onshore Training● System Calibration
The future :
… are you ?
… any questions ?
Thanks for listening
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