Compositional Analysis of Commercial Oligomeric Organophosphorus Flame Retardants Used as Alternatives for PBDEs: Concentrations and Potential Environmental Emissions of Oligomers and Impurities

Environ Sci Technol. 2015 Nov 3;49(21):12913-21. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b03447. Epub 2015 Oct 15.

Abstract

Four commercial oligomeric organophosphorus flame retardants (o-PFRs) were characterized using a refractive index detector and atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI)-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS) compatible with gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Commercial o-PFRs consisted of approximately 90% or more oligomers and several impurities. Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), tris(dimethylphenyl) phosphate (TDMPP), tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), and some new impurities were identified as byproducts of some manufacturing process of commercial o-PFRs for the first time. The concentrations of TPHP, TDMPP, and TCIPP were more than 1 weight %, whereas those of new impurities might be approximately 1 weight % by comparison among their abundances acquired through GPC-APPI-QTOF-MS analysis. Based on their vapor pressure and water solubility estimations, the potential environmental emissions of low molecular weight impurities were expected to be higher than those of oligomers. The presence and environmental emissions of low molecular weight impurities might be regarded as risk factors along with commercial o-PFRs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Gel / methods
  • Environmental Pollutants / analysis
  • Environmental Pollutants / chemistry
  • Flame Retardants / analysis*
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Molecular Weight
  • Organophosphates / analysis
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / analysis*
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Flame Retardants
  • Organophosphates
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • tri-(2-chloroisopropyl)phosphate
  • triphenyl phosphate