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

Ajaero, Chukwuemeka; Peru, Kerry M.; Simair, Monique C.; Friesen, Vanessa; O’Sullivan, Gwen; Hughes, Sarah; McMartin, Dena W.; Headley, John V.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.079

Cited by 37 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 90 publications

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“…However, it is worth noting that the greatest concentration of the NA mixture tested was but 1 mg/L, which is two orders of magnitude lower than concentrations reported in tailings ponds (128 mg/L, [4]). At present, even the most effective methods of removing naphthenic acids, such as constructed wetlands, remove only up to 80% of the types of substances tested in this study [30]. Thus, the concentrations of NA could easily remain in the 8-24 mg/L range.…”

Section: Lethal Responses To Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 79%

Risks of Mixtures of Oil Sands Contaminants to a Sensitive Mayfly Sentinel, Hexagenia

et al. 2019

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Tailings ponds in northeastern Alberta, Canada contain massive amounts of oil sands process water (OSPW) that cannot currently be released due to the toxicity of some components. Limited space and the need for reclamation of oil sands operation sites will necessitate the release of OSPW in the near future. Knowledge of the composition and toxicity of OSPW is lacking yet is crucial for both risk assessment and management planning. This study examines chronic toxicity of a mixture of OSPW components sodium naphthenate and naphthenic acid (NA) to nymphs of the mayfly Hexagenia spp. in control and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)-spiked sediment treatments. The objective of this study was to determine whether the addition of the PAH-spiked sediment significantly contributed to or masked responses of these sensitive mayflies to mixtures of NA. Mean survival in nymphs exposed to NA and PAH-spiked sediment treatments was reduced by 48% compared to those exposed to the NA mixture alone. Lethal responses were observed in all of the PAH-spiked sediment treatments. However, within PAH-spiked and control sediment treatments, there was no significant difference in nymph survival due to NA concentration, indicating that changes in survivorship were predominantly a reflection of increased mortality associated with sediment PAHs and not to the NA mixture treatment. Sublethal effects on body segment ratios suggest that mayflies exposed to NA and PAH-spiked sediment, as well as those exposed to the highest NA concentration tested (1 mg/L) and control sediment, made developmental trade-offs in order to emerge faster and escape a stressful environment. These results reveal that the release of OSPW to the surrounding environment could cause a reduction in mayfly populations. Mayflies provide ecosystem services and are an important food source for higher trophic levels in both the aquatic and terrestrial communities.

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Section: Lethal Responses To Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 79%

Risks of Mixtures of Oil Sands Contaminants to a Sensitive Mayfly Sentinel, Hexagenia

et al. 2019

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“…In another study conducted with OSPW samples from marshy aquatic environments, NAs molecular characterization demonstrated O 2 , O 3 , O 4 , O 5 , O 6 , S, O 2 S, O 3 S, O 4 S, and O 5 S classes. Within this sample, O x (x ≥ 2) was the predominant species, accounting for more than 90% of the total abundance, followed by O x S. Nitrogen-containing species were detected in very low abundance (≤0.4%) [145].…”

Section: Carbon Number (N)mentioning

confidence: 84%

Naphthenic Acids: Formation, Role in Emulsion Stability, and Recent Advances in Mass Spectrometry-Based Analytical Methods

Facanali

Porto

Crucello

et al. 2021

Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry

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Naphthenic acids (NAs) are compounds naturally present in most petroleum sources comprised of complex mixtures with a highly variable composition depending on their origin. Their occurrence in crude oil can cause severe corrosion problems and catalysts deactivation, decreasing oil quality and consequently impacting its productivity and economic value. NAs structures also allow them to behave as surfactants, causing the formation and stabilization of emulsions. In face of the ongoing challenge of treatment of water-in-oil (W/O) or oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions in the oil and gas industry, it is important to understand how NAs act in emulsified systems and which acids are present in the interface. Considering that, this review describes the properties of NAs, their role in the formation and stability of oil emulsions, and the modern analytical methods used for the qualitative analysis of such acids.

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“…Some components of OSPW are well understood: trace elements including metals, semimetals, and metalloids (Nix and Martin ; Siwik et al ; Bicalho et al ; Donner et al ), salts and ammonia (COSIA ), and suspended solids (El‐Din et al ; COSIA ; McQueen, Hendrikse et al ). However, the complexity of the organics in OSPW creates a practical challenge for determining treatment methods (Headley et al ; Pereira et al 2013; Goff et al ; Brown and Ulrich ; Quinlan and Tam ; Wilde et al ; Ajaero et al ), in addition to estimating potential risks (West et al ; Huang et al ). The estimation of potential risk is further supported through an existing understanding of chemical properties such as the propensity for bioaccumulation (Zhang et al ; Morandi et al ).…”

Section: Workhop Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of Existing Science to Inform Oil Sands Process Water Release: A Technical Workshop Summary

Tanna¹,

Redman

Frank

et al. 2019

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

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The extraction of oil sands from mining operations in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region uses an alkaline hot water extraction process. The oil sands process water (OSPW) is recycled to facilitate material transport (e.g., ore and tailings), process cooling, and is also reused in the extraction process. The industry has expanded since commercial mining began in 1967 and companies have been accumulating increasing inventories of OSPW. Short‐ and long‐term sustainable water management practices require the ability to return treated water to the environment. The safe release of OSPW needs to be based on sound science and engineering practices to ensure downstream protection of ecological and human health. A significant body of research has contributed to the understanding of the chemistry and toxicity of OSPW. A multistakeholder science workshop was held in September 2017 to summarize the state of science on the toxicity and chemistry of OSPW. The goal of the workshop was to review completed research in the areas of toxicology, chemical analysis, and monitoring to support the release of treated oil sands water. A key outcome from the workshop was identifying research needs to inform future water management practices required to support OSPW return. Another key outcome of the workshop was the recognition that methods are sufficiently developed to characterize chemical and toxicological characteristics of OSPW to address and close knowledge gaps. Industry, government, and local indigenous stakeholders have proceeded to utilize these insights in reviewing policy and regulations. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;15:519–527. © 2019 SETAC

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

Cited by 37 publications

References 90 publications

Risks of Mixtures of Oil Sands Contaminants to a Sensitive Mayfly Sentinel, Hexagenia

Risks of Mixtures of Oil Sands Contaminants to a Sensitive Mayfly Sentinel, Hexagenia

Naphthenic Acids: Formation, Role in Emulsion Stability, and Recent Advances in Mass Spectrometry-Based Analytical Methods

Overview of Existing Science to Inform Oil Sands Process Water Release: A Technical Workshop Summary

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