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. 2023 May 15:11:7986-7996.
doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c01124.

Sunrise of PFAS Replacements: A Perspective on Fluorine-Free Foams

Mohamed Ateia  1 , Jean Van Buren  2 , William Barrett  2 , Todd Martin  3 , Gerard G Back  4
Affiliations

Sunrise of PFAS Replacements: A Perspective on Fluorine-Free Foams

Mohamed Ateia et al. ACS Sustain Chem Eng. .

Abstract

One type of firefighting foam, referred to as aqueous filmforming foams (AFFF), is known to contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The concerns raised with PFAS, and their potential environmental and health impacts, have led to a surge in research on fluorine-free alternatives both in the United States and globally. Particularly, in January 2023, a new military specification (MIL-PRF-32725) for fluorine-free foam was released in accordance with Congressional requirements for the U.S. Department of Defense. This paper provides a critical analysis of the present state of the various fluorine-free options that have been developed to date. A nuanced perspective of the challenges and opportunities of more sustainable replacements is explored by examining the performance, cost, and regulatory considerations associated with these fluorine-free alternatives. Ultimately, this evaluation shows that the transition to fluorine-free replacements is likely to be complex and multifaceted, requiring careful consideration of the trade-offs involved. Yet, the ongoing work will provide valuable insights for future research on alternatives to AFFF and enhancing the safety and sustainability of fire suppression systems.

Keywords: aqueous film-forming foams; firefighting foam; fluorine-free foam; per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Timeline of some milestones related to PFAS use in AFFF from production to phase out.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Examples for surfactants most often used in firefighting foams. R designates C8–C14 alkyl chains.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
(A) Fire-fighting foam product flow. (B) Generic alternatives assessment framework by OECD Guidance.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Example for the output from the Hazard Comparison Dashboard (HCD) for chemicals disclosed in the safety data sheets (SDS) of some F3s.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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