Perfluorooctanesulfonate Degrades in a Laccase-Mediator System

Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) is a compound that has wide applications with extreme persistence in the environment and the potential to bioaccumulate, and could induce adverse effects to ecosystems. We investigated the degradation of PFOS by laccase-induced enzyme catalyzed oxidative humification reactions (ECOHRs) using 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT) as a mediator. Approximately 59% of PFOS was transformed over 162 days of incubation, and the reaction appeared to follow a pseudo-first-order model with reaction rate constant of 0.0066/d (r2 = 0.87) under one condition tested. Using differential absorption spectra and theoretical simulation, we elucidated the interaction between Cu2+/Mg2+ and PFOS, and proposed that Cu2+ and Mg2+ could serve as a bridge to bring the negatively charged PFOS and laccase to proximity, thus increasing the chance of radicals that are released from laccase to reach and react with PFOS. In addition, density functional theory modeling showed that PFOS complexation to the metal ions could unlock its helical configuration and decrease the C–C bond energy of PFOS. These changes allow the attack of PFOS C–C backbone by radicals to become easier. On the basis of products identification, we proposed that direct attack of PFOS by the HBT radical initiated the free radical chain reaction processes and led to the formation of fluoride and partially fluorinated compounds. These results suggest that ECOHR is a potential pathway by which PFOS could be degraded in the environment, and it may make a viable approach to remediate PFOS contamination via amendment of appropriate enzymes and mediators.