Chemical succession of naphthenic acid fraction compounds in reclamation landscape mesocosms established on centrifuged and co-mixed fluid fine tailings from the Athabasca oil sands.

The Athabasca oil sands region of Alberta, Canada contains one of the world's largest unconventional petroleum deposits. There is concern about residual contaminants where tailings are integrated during reclamation and the related adverse effects this may have. Some of the primary toxic organic contaminants in oilsands tailings are naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs).

Low adsorption affinity of athabasca oil sands naphthenic acid fraction compounds to a peat-mineral mixture.

Much of the toxicity in oil sands process-affected water in Athabasca oil sands tailings has been attributed to naphthenic acids (NAs) and associated naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs). Previous work has characterized the environmental behaviour and fate of these compounds, particularly in the context of constructed treatment wetlands. There is evidence that wetlands can attenuate NAFCs in natural and engineered contexts, but relative contributions of chemical, biotic, and physical adsorption with sequestration require deconvolution.

Evaluations of Weathering of Polar and Nonpolar Petroleum Components in a Simulated Freshwater-Oil Spill by Orbitrap and Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry.

The comprehensive chemical characterization of crude oil is important for the evaluation of the transformation and fate of components in the environment. Molecular-level speciation of naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs) was investigated in a mesoscale spill tank using both negative-ion electrospray ionization (ESI) Orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS) and positive-ion atmospheric pressure photoionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (APPI-FT-ICR-MS). Both ionization techniques are coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometric detectors (ESI: Orbitrap MS; APPI: FT-ICR-MS at 9.

Site-specific spatiotemporal occurrence and molecular congener distributions of naphthenic acids in Athabasca oil sands wetlands of Alberta, Canada.

The Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) of Alberta, Canada is notable for its considerable unconventional petroleum extraction projects, where bitumen is extracted from naturally-occurring oil sands ore. The large scale of these heavy crude oil developments raises concerns because of their potential to distribute and/or otherwise influence the occurrence, behaviour, and fate of environmental contaminants. Naphthenic acids (NAs) are one such contaminant class of concern in the AOSR, so studies have examined the occurrence and molecular profiles of NAs in the region.

Influence of zwitterionic structure design on mixed matrix membrane stability, hydrophilicity, and fouling resistance: A computational study.

Zwitterion-based mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) with designed characteristics of enhanced water flux, selectivity, and fouling mitigation have emerged as a new class of advanced membranes for oilsands process-affected wastewater (OSPW) treatment. Zwitterions (ZW) characterized by super-hydrophilicity and excellent fouling resistance have gained increasing attention in membrane modification research. In general, zwitterion properties are determined by the chemistry and structural properties of its constituents, including the polymer backbone, charged moieties, spacers, as well as molecular configuration.