Synthesis and application of non- bioaccumulable fluorinated surfactants: a review

Due to negative effects of conventional fluorinated surfactants with long perfluorocarbon chain(C_(x)F_(2x+1),x≥7)like perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA)and perfluorooctane sulfonate(PFOS),these conventional long perfluorocarbon chain surfactants have been restricted in many industrial applications.Nowadays,their potential non-bioaccumulable alternatives have been developed to meet the requirements of environmental sustainable development.In this paper,the recent advances of potential non-bioaccumulable fluorinated surfactants with different fluorocarbon chain structures,including the short perfluorocarbon chain,the branched fluorocarbon chain,and the fluorocarbon chain with weak points,are reviewed from the aspects of synthesis processes,properties,and structure-activity relationships.And their applications in emulsion polymerization of fluorinated olefins,handling membrane proteins,and leather manufacture also are summarized.Furthermore,the challenges embedded in the current non-bioaccumulable fluorinated surfactants are also highlighted and discussed with the hope to provide a valuable reference for the prosperous development of fluorinated surfactants.