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).

The effect of rhizosphere pH on removal of naphthenic acid fraction compounds from oil sands process-affected water in a willow hydroponic system.

The extraction and processing of bitumen from the oil sands in northern Alberta, Canada generates large volumes of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). OSPW contains a complex mixture of inorganic and organic compounds, including naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs) that are of particular concern due to their toxicity to aquatic organisms. Phytoremediation is a cost-effective, scalable approach that has the potential to remove NAFCs from OSPW and reduce OSPW toxicity.

Detection of naphthenic acid uptake into root and shoot tissues indicates a direct role for plants in the remediation of oil sands process-affected water.

Bitumen extraction from surface-mined oil sands deposits results in the accumulation of large volumes of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). Naphthenic acids (NAs) are primary contributors to OSPW toxicity and have been a focal point for the development of OSPW remediation strategies. Phytoremediation is an approach that utilizes plants and their associated microbes to remediate contaminants from soil and groundwater.

Exposure to naphthenic acids and the acid extractable organic fraction from oil sands process-affected water alters the subcellular structure and dynamics of plant cells.

Oil sands surface mining generates vast quantities of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) as a by-product of bitumen extraction. The acid extractable organic (AEO) fraction of OSPW contains several contaminants, including naphthenic acids (NAs). While responses of living organisms to NA and AEO exposure have been described at the developmental, physiological, metabolic and gene expression levels, the effects of these compounds at the cellular and subcellular level are limited.