Transformation of bitumen-derived naphthenic acid fraction compounds across surface waters of wetlands in the Athabasca Oil Sands region.

Bitumen is extracted from oil sands in the Athabasca Oil Sands region (AOSR) of Alberta, Canada. Much of the bitumen-derived toxicity in mine waste is attributable to naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs). Mines in the AOSR are required to be returned to a natural state after closure; thus, cost-effective strategies are needed to reduce toxicity from NAFCs.

Treatment of oil sands process affected waters by constructed wetlands: Evaluation of designs and plant types.

Constructed wetland treatment systems (CWTS)s can be used to treat various wastewaters. The main constituent in oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) with uncertain treatment by CWTS are naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFC)s. The NAFCs are also among the primary contributors of toxicity to aquatic organisms.

Direct analysis of naphthenic acids in constructed wetland samples by condensed phase membrane introduction mass spectrometry.

The application of direct mass spectrometry techniques to the analysis of complex samples has a number of advantages including reduced sample handling, higher sample throughput, in situ process monitoring, and the potential for adaptation to on-site analysis. We report the application of a semi-permeable capillary hollow fibre membrane probe (immersed directly into an aqueous sample) coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer by a continuously flowing methanol acceptor phase for the rapid analysis of naphthenic acids with unit mass resolution. The intensity of the naphthenic acid-associated peaks in the mass spectrum are normalized to an internal standard in the acceptor phase for quantitation and the relative abundance of the peaks in the mass spectrum are employed to monitor compositional changes in the naphthenic acid mixture using principle component analysis.

Fate and behavior of oil sands naphthenic acids in a pilot-scale treatment wetland as characterized by negative-ion electrospray ionization Orbitrap mass spectrometry.

Large volumes of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) are generated during the extraction of bitumen from oil sands in the Athabasca region of northeastern Alberta, Canada. As part of the development of treatment technologies, molecular characterization of naphthenic acids (NAs) and naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFC) in wetlands is a topic of research to better understand their fate and behavior in aquatic environments. Reported here is the application of high-resolution negative-ion electrospray Orbitrap-mass spectrometry for molecular characterization of NAs and NAFCs in a non-aerated constructed treatment wetland.