Perfluamine

Endpoint summary

Additional information

Perfluorotripropylamine (PTPA) is a member of the Perfluorinated Organic Chemicals, C5-C18 category. It is a liquid at room temperature with a vapor pressure of 0.516 kPa (3.87 mm Hg) at 20 °C. PTPA water solubility is 0.381 µg/L at 23 °C. Its Henry’s law constant is read across as a range from analogous compounds of similar water solubility, as 3400 - 4020 atm•m³/mol at 22 °C (expressed as the ratio of vapor phase partial pressure over aqueous phase concentration). Releases of PTPA are expected to be to the atmosphere based upon its intended uses. Fugitive emissions may occur at transfer points. During routine use, there is no anticipated release to water or wastewater in the EU. The vapor pressure, low water solubility and high Henry’s law constant combine to move PTPA from any terrestrial compartment into the atmosphere. The best available estimates of soil volatilization half-life are 25.6 hours for agricultural soils, 1.60 hours for grassland (natural) soils, and 1.60 h for industrial soils. Once in the atmospheric compartment, this compound will not partition to terrestrial or aquatic compartments based on the same properties. Therefore, this compound will remain in the atmosphere when released from industrial applications. PTPA contains no hydrolysable groups and is not biodegradable. Degradation in the environment is expected to be by solely by direct photolysis in the upper atmosphere. An overall lifetime >2000 years is expected through these processes. The ultimate degradation products are hydrofluoric acid (HF, CAS# 7664-39-3), carbon dioxide, water and oxides of nitrogen. These materials are miscible in water and are completely ionized in rainwater. They are expected to undergo wet deposition with no further significant transformation upon return to the troposphere.

As PTPA is a highly fluorinated substance, global warming and ozone depletion potentials may be of interest. USEPA states flatly that hydrofluorocarbons do not deplete ozone because they lack chlorine or bromine. Fluorine radicals do not contribute to ozone depletion because of fast quenching of F* by water or hydrogen donors, slow reaction of FO* radicals with oxygen, and obligate reformation of F* in the pathway (1). F* radicals are rapidly and irreversibly removed from the atmosphere after quenching as HF. Therefore, neither PTPA nor any of its acidic photodegradation products contribute to ozone depletion. Global warming potential depends on three factors: absorption of infrared radiation, area of the spectrum the absorption occurs and lifetime of the material in the atmosphere. PTPA has an estimated GWP of 8770 over a 100-year integrated time horizon.

PTPA is not expected to partition to moist soils or surface waters. Upon accidental, direct release of PTPA to the aquatic compartment, the chemical is expected to volatilize rapidly. Members of the Perfluorinated Organic Chemicals, C5-C18 category did not show signs of biodegradation in reliable Closed Bottle (BOD) tests. In particular, a headspace biodegradation (OECD310) assay of category member FC-770 (perfluoro-N-C1,3-alkyl morpholines) showed no biodegradation. However, non-biodegradability of PTPA in aquatic or terrestrial compartments is expected to be not relevant due to rapid volatilization.

PTPA is expected to have little potential to bioaccumulate. Given its extremely short half-life due to volatilization, it will not exist in aquatic environments or organisms for a sufficient time to allow partitioning into lipid tissues or testing of bioconcentration under relevant conditions.

References

1) A.J. Colussi, M.A. Crela. 1994. Rate of the reaction between oxygen monofluoride and ozone. Implications for the atmospheric role of fluorine. Chem. Phys. Lett. Vol. 229, pp. 134-138.