Biodegradability, cytotoxicity, and physicochemical treatability of two novel perfluorooctane sulfonate-free photoacid generators.

There is a need for effective, environmentally compatible photoacid generators (PAGs) for application in photolithography for microelectronic device fabrication. Perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFAS) used in conventional PAG formulations, such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), are under increasing scrutiny due to their widespread environmental distribution and toxicity. Recently, two new PFAS-free, PAG anions with semifluorinated sulfonate anions containing biomolecules (γ-butyrolactone or D-glucose groups) were successfully applied as PAGs.

Anaerobic degradation of citrate under sulfate reducing and methanogenic conditions.

Citrate is an important component of metal processing effluents such as chemical mechanical planarization wastewaters of the semiconductor industry. Citrate can serve as an electron donor for sulfate reduction applied to promote the removal of metals, and it can also potentially be used by methanogens that coexist in anaerobic biofilms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the degradation of citrate with sulfate-reducing and methanogenic biofilms.