Isotopic characterization of nitrate, ammonium and sulfate in stack PM2.5 emissions in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada

The Δ<sup>17</sup>O and δ<sup>18</sup>O values of simultaneously collected atmospheric nitrates from anthropogenic sources – Implications for polluted air masses

“…1), different source types, and very 15 different sampling methods (bulk/throughfall deposition samples using open ion exchange resin collectors, vs. wind sectorspecific active sampling on filters and precipitation-only collectors). Notably, many points carry relatively low δ oil-sands industrial stacks, i.e., in the emissions measured in-stack and diluted with ambient air (Proemse et al, 2012). These values appear near the O2-end of the O2-O3-NOx line (Fig.…”

“…The few existing studies have chiefly characterized w-NO3 -or the sum of p-NO3 -and HNO3 (Michalski et al, 2004;Morin et al, 2008;Alexander et al, 2009;Morin et al, 2009;Proemse et al, 2012;Guha et al, 2017), and suggested these indicators would be useful to trace atmospheric nitrate in water (Kendall et al, 2007;Tsunogai et al, 2010;Dahal and 30 Hastings, 2016). Elliott et al (2009) (Kendall et al, 2007;Proemse et al, 2013).…”

“…Canada, 2016). Pioneering work was accomplished measuring nitrate on emitted PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 µm) and in bulk and throughfall precipitation 10 samples (wet and some dry deposition on ion exchange resin collectors) collected at or downwind of the Athabasca oil-sands mining operations in Alberta (Proemse et al, 2012;Proemse et al, 2013). However, the Edmonton area in Central Alberta, known to generate the highest NOx emissions in Canada, and the area of southern Alberta, characterized by dense gas compressor station and agricultural emissions, have never been investigated.…”

Stable sulfur isotope measurements to trace the fate of SO2 in the Athabasca oil sands region

“…by Proemse et al (2012a). They reported sulfur isotope values for bitumen,+4.3 ± 0.3 ‰, untreated oil sand, +6.4 ± 0.5 ‰…”

“…For the no tracer condition data for δ 34 S values of potential sources in the region (Proemse et al, 2012a) and isotope fractionation data (Harris et al, 2012) were used to investigate the importance of atmospheric sulfur oxidation pathways in the Athabasca oil sands region. The 34 SO 2 condition was used to examine the rate of SO 2 oxidation at ground level. )…”