F-53B (6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate) in food: ingestion safety

What is f-53b (6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate)?

The IUPAC name is potassium 2-(6-chloro-1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6-dodecafluorohexoxy)-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethanesulfonate.

Also known as: 73606-19-6, Potassium 9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonate, DTXSID60881236, 9ClPF3ONS.

IUPAC name

potassium 2-(6-chloro-1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6-dodecafluorohexoxy)-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethanesulfonate

CAS number

73606-19-6

Molecular formula

C8ClF16KO4S

Molecular weight

570.67 g/mol

SMILES

C(C(C(C(F)(F)Cl)(F)F)(F)F)(C(C(OC(C(F)(F)S(=O)(=O)[O-])(F)F)(F)F)(F)F)(F)F.[K+]

PubChem CID

25210512

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified F-53B (6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate). The classifications differ — that's the data.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter f-53b (6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate)

• Chrome Plating — Industrial chrome plating baths, Decorative chrome plating
  Primary use — replaces PFOS as mist suppressant in chrome plating in China
• Drinking Water — Chinese municipal water near chrome plating districts
  Detected at ng/L levels in Chinese drinking water
• Human Biomonitoring — Chinese general population serum, Chrome plating workers
  Detected in >80% of Chinese blood samples. Also detected in US, Canadian, European samples at lower levels.

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to F-53B (6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate):

• Non-fluorinated mist suppressants
  Trade-offs: Available for chrome plating. Performance gap in hard chrome applications. Adequate for decorative chrome. Lower cost per unit but higher consumption rate.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• Trivalent chromium plating
  Trade-offs: Eliminates need for hexavalent chrome mist suppressant entirely. Different appearance (slightly blue vs bright). Less corrosion resistance. Growing adoption for automotive trim.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• PFAS-free firefighting foams (fluorine-free foams / F3)
  Trade-offs: For AFFF replacement use case. Pass UL 162 at higher application rates. Require foam system re-engineering. Higher concentrate cost. No persistent fluorinated residues.
  Relative cost: Lower (ingredient elimination)

Frequently asked questions