Characterization of fluorinated metabolites by a gas chromatographic-helium microwave plasma detector-The biotransformation of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanol to perfluorooctanoate

Abstract

A gas chromatographic technique utilizing a microwave-sustained helium plasma detector ( GC MPD) was developed to study the biotransformation of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanol (C8F17CH2CH2OH) in adult male rats. The metabolic products resulting from a single oral dose of the alcohol were isolated from the blood plasma by an extraction technique, derivatized, and characterized by the GC MPD system with confirmation by fluorine NMR. Four fluorine-containing metabolites were detected by the fluorine-specific channel of the element-selective MPD and one of these was shown to be perfluorooctanoate (C7F15COO-). Appearance of perfluorooctanoate as a metabolite and an additional observation of concomitant elevation in plasma and urinary inorganic fluoride suggests that the biotransformation of the above alcohol to the perfluorooctanoate involves defluorination of the CF2 group adjacent to the CH2 group in the parent compound. © 1981.