C6 Fire Fighting Foam Presentation: Manufactured by Oil Technic Ltd

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 :


● the EU is committed in the future to assessing substitutes to PFOS-based foams

including telomer-based foams

However :


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


to reduce by 95%

emissions & product content of

● PFOA ● chemicals that can degrade to PFOA

In the USA,


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,


fluorosurfactants

Telomer molecules with a carbon chain greater than C6

will effectively no longer be available for use


fluorosurfactantsAs discussed, research to date has concluded:

There is no known pathwayfor C6 flurosurfactants to break down into PFOA


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


These new formulations must meet International Standards:

● UL 162

● EN 1568

● ICAO Level B

● MIL-F 24385F


It is expected that the new foamswill require to be requalified for these International Standards:


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

Technology

C6 Fire Fighting Foam Presentation: Manufactured by Oil Technic Ltd