ABSTRACT
Fluorosurfactants are a unique class of surfactants whose properties originate from the substitution of hydrogen with fluorine along the carbon backbone that makes up the hydrophobic part of a surfactant. The historic use of fluorosurfactants, including their use in firefighting foams, has partially contributed to the widespread presence of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), aka long-chain perfluoroalkyl substances, in the environment. The persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic properties of the long-chain perfluoroalkyl substances, PFOS and PFOA, and the related long-chain raw materials and commercial products were the driving force behind manufacturers ceasing manufacture of these long-chain chemistries and transitioning to short-chain chemistry. The first work on aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) containing fluorosurfactants was carried out by the Naval Research Laboratory and 3M in the early 1960s and led to the development of 3M's "Lightwater" AFFF products based on electrochemical fluorination (ECF) chemistry. The ECF process was the first implemented to produce fluorosurfactants.
