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. 2025 Jun;18(6):e70181.
doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.70181.

PFAS Biodegradation and the Constraints of Thermodynamics

Lawrence P Wackett  1
Affiliations

PFAS Biodegradation and the Constraints of Thermodynamics

Lawrence P Wackett. Microb Biotechnol. 2025 Jun.

Abstract

Microbial metabolism of PFAS such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) would yield 15 toxic fluoride anions and metabolites with relatively low growth yield coefficients.

Keywords: PFAS; bacteria; biodegradation; carbon source; energetics; growth yield; metabolism; thermodynamics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Relative mass changes in the metabolism of C—H rich compounds compared to C—F rich compounds. C—H rich growth substrates can give growth yields slightly greater than one. C—F rich compounds must give growth yields less than one.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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