Characterization of the thermolysis products of Nafion membrane: A potential source of perfluorinated compounds in the environment.

ABSTRACT: The thermal decomposition of Nafion N117 membrane, a typical perfluorosulfonic acid membrane that is widely used in various chemical technologies, was investigated in this study. Structural identification of thermolysis products in water and methanol was performed using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS). The fluoride release was studied using an ion-chromatography system, and the membrane thermal stability was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis. Notably, several types of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) including perfluorocarboxylic acids were detected and identified. Based on these data, a thermolysis mechanism was proposed involving cleavage of both the polymer backbone and its side chains by attack of radical species. This is t

SUBMITTER: Feng M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5386195 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature