11月10日提交的一份的訴訟指出，已有證據表明西德普特福德工廠的含氟產品生產過程中存在廣泛的PFAS污染。但該工廠目前的所有者索爾維“一再拒絕服從”新澤西州監管機構的指示，即調查污染并支付對被PFAS污染的飲用水的處理費用，該報告稱，污染仍在蔓延。

根據報道，阿科瑪在20世紀80年代中期建成了該工廠。1985年，該公司開始使用全氟壬酸（PFNA），全氟辛酸（PFOA），全氟十一烷酸和其他PFAS的混合物生產含氟產品，包括含氟聚合物Kynar。1990年，阿科瑪將該工廠出售給了索爾維。

索爾維在西德普福德工廠生產的含氟產品包括Tecnoflon系列含氟彈性體和全氟彈性體。該州表示，自1990年以來，該公司已在當地使用并釋放了數千公斤的PFAS。

該訴訟稱，索爾維于2010年停止在該工廠使用PFNA和PFOA，目前可能使用氯全氟聚醚羧酸鹽作為替代品。根據今年發表的一項研究(Science 2020, DOI: 10.1126/science.aba7127)，美國環境保護署和新澤西州環境保護局的研究人員利用質譜技術，在工廠附近的土壤中發現了10種新化合物，這些化合物與PFOA和PFNA具有相似的毒性。

該州表示，索爾維聲稱其在西德普特福德工廠使用的PFAS的化學特性屬于商業機密。新澤西州正在要求州法院命令蘇威公司明確這些化合物，與州政府共享這些化學物質從工廠釋放的信息，并為其提供健康和安全數據。該州還希望該公司提供這些物質的分析標準。而索爾維在給定的期限內還沒有回應置評請求。

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Seeking PFAS cleanup, New Jersey sues Solvay and Arkema

State seeks information about chloroperfluoropolyether carboxylates

A?suit?filed Nov. 10 points to evidence of widespread PFAS pollution from the manufacture of fluoroproducts at a West Deptford plant. But Solvay, its current owner, “has repeatedly refused to comply with” directives from New Jersey regulators to investigate the pollution and pay for treatment of PFAS-contaminated drinking water, the suit says. The pollution continues to spread, it adds.

Arkema built the plant in the mid-1980s. In 1985, it began using a mixture of perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluoroundecanoic acid, and other PFAS as it made fluoroproducts, including the fluoropolymer Kynar, according to the suit. Arkema sold the plant to Solvay in 1990.

Solvay manufactures fluoroproducts, including Tecnoflon fluoroelastomers and perfluoroelastomers, at the West Deptford facility. The company has used and released thousands of kilograms of PFAS there since 1990, the state says.

In 2010, Solvay quit using PFNA and PFOA at the plant, the suit says. Solvay now likely uses chloroperfluoropolyether carboxylates as a replacement, according to the state. Researchers from the US Environmental Protection Agency and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection used mass spectrometry to discover 10 of these novel compounds in soil near the plant, according to a study published earlier this year (Science?2020, DOI:10.1126/science.aba7127). These compounds have similar toxicity to PFOA and PFNA, New Jersey says.

Solvay claims the chemical identity of the PFAS it uses at the West Deptford plant as a trade secret, the state says. New Jersey is asking a state court to order Solvay to identify these compounds, share information with the state about releases of these chemicals from the facility, and provide health and safety data for them. The state also wants the company to provide analytical standards for the substances.

Solvay did not respond to a request for comment before C&EN’s deadline.