Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of the photodegradation of naphthenic acids mixtures irradiated with titanium dioxide

A multi-step approach: Coupling of biodegradation and UV photocatalytic oxidation TiO2 for the treatment of naphthenic acid fraction compounds in oil sands process-affected water

Bitumen extraction in Alberta's oil sands region uses large volumes of water, leading to an abundance of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). OSPW contains naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs) which have been found to contribute to OSPW toxicity. This study utilized a multistep treatment, coupling biological degradation with UV photocatalytic oxidation, and nutrient addition to boost the native microbial community's degradation capacity. OSPW initially contained 40-42 mg/L NAFCs with a toxicity of 3.8-3.9 TU. Initial biodegradation (Step 1) was used to remove the easily biodegradable NAFCs (11-25% removal), followed by a light or heavy dose of oxidation (Step 2) to breakdown the recalcitrant NAFCs (66-82% removal). Lastly, post-oxidation biodegradation with nutrients (Step 3) removed the residual bioavailable NAFCs (16-31% removal). By the end of the multistep treatment, the final NAFC concentrations and toxicity ranged from 5.3 to 6.8 mg/L and 1.1-1.2 TU. Analysis showed that OPSW was limited in phosphorus (below detection limit), and the addition of nutrients improved the degradation of NAFCs. Two treatments throughout the multistep treatment never received nutrients and showed minimal NAFC degradation post-oxidation. The native microbial community survived the stress from UV photocatalytic oxidation as seen by the post-oxidation NAFC biodegradation. Microbial community diversity was reduced considerably following oxidation, but increased with nutrient addition. The microbial community consisted predominately of Proteobacteria (Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria), and the composition shifted depending on the level of oxidation received. Possible NAFC-degrading microbes identified after a light oxidation dose included Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and Xanthomonadales, while Xanthobacteracea and Rhodococcus were the dominant microbes after heavy oxidation. This experiment confirms that the microbial community is capable of degrading NAFCs and withstanding oxidative stress, and that degradation is further enhanced with the addition of nutrients.

Photodegradation of bitumen-derived organics in oil sands process-affected water

The chemical composition of water-soluble organics in oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) is primarily composed of natural constituents of bitumen that are solubilized and concentrated during aqueous extraction of oil sands. OSPW organics are persistent and acutely toxic, and a leading remediation strategy is long-term ageing in end-pit lakes, despite limited data available on its photochemical fate. Here, direct photolysis of whole OSPW, or of its constituent fractions, was examined at environmentally relevant wavelengths (>290 nm) in bench-top studies. Changes in the chemical profiles of whole OSPW, acid- (AEO), and base-extractable organics (BEO) were characterized by liquid chromatography with ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry in negative (-) and positive (+) ionization modes. Following 18 d of irradiation, photolysis reduced the total ion intensity in all samples in both modes. The most photo-labile species included the O₂^-, O₃^-, O₄^-, O₂S^-, and O₄S^- chemical classes, which were depleted in whole OSPW by 93-100% after only 5 d. In positive mode, detected species were more recalcitrant than those detected in negative mode, with an average reduction across all heteroatomic classes of 75 ± 11.0% after 18 d. Estimated environmental half-lives for heteroatomic classes ranged from 57 d (O₄S^-) to 545 d (O₃N⁺), with a greater recalcitrance for classes detected in positive mode compared to negative mode. Under field conditions in end-pit lakes, natural photolysis may be an important mechanism for effective OSPW remediation, and we suggest that future end-pit lakes be shallow to maximize light penetration and natural photolysis in ageing OSPW.

Petroleomic analysis of the treatment of naphthenic organics in oil sands process-affected water with buoyant photocatalysts

The persistence of toxicity associated with the soluble naphthenic organic compounds (NOCs) of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) implies that a treatment solution may be necessary to enable safe return of this water to the environment. Due to recent advances in high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), the majority of the toxicity of OSPW is currently understood to derive from a subset of toxic classes, comprising only a minority of the total NOCs. Herein, oxidative treatment of OSPW with buoyant photocatalysts was evaluated under a petroleomics paradigm: chemical changes across acid-, base- and neutral-extractable organic fractions were tracked throughout the treatment with both positive and negative ion mode electrospray ionization (ESI) Orbitrap MS. Elimination of detected OS⁺ and NO⁺ classes of concern in the earliest stages of the treatment, along with preferential degradation of high carbon-numbered O₂^- acids, suggest that photocatalysis may detoxify OSPW with higher efficiency than previously thought. Application of petroleomic level analysis offers unprecedented insights into the treatment of petroleum impacted water, allowing reaction trends to be followed across multiple fractions and thousands of compounds simultaneously.

Structure-reactivity relationship of naphthenic acids in the photocatalytic degradation process

Bitumen extraction in Canada's oil sands generates oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) as a toxic by-product. Naphthenic acids (NAs) contribute to the water's toxicity, and treatment methods may need to be implemented to enable safe discharge. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a promising advanced oxidation process (AOP) for OSPW remediation, however, its successful implementation requires understanding of the complicated relationship between structure and reactivity of NAs. This work aimed to study the effect of various structural properties of model compounds on the photocatalytic degradation kinetics via high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), including diamondoid structures, heteroatomic species, and degree of unsaturation. The rate of photocatalytic treatment increased significantly with greater structural complexity, namely with carbon number, aromaticity and degree of cyclicity, properties that render particular NAs recalcitrant to biodegradation. It is hypothesized that a superoxide radical-mediated pathway explains these observations and offers additional benefits over traditional hydroxyl radical-based AOPs. Detailed structure-reactivity investigations of NAs in photocatalysis have not previously been undertaken, and the results described herein illustrate the potential benefit of combining photocatalysis and biodegradation as a complete OSPW remediation technology.

Photocatalytic degradation kinetics of naphthenic acids in oil sands process-affected water: Multifactorial determination of significant factors

Oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) is generated as a byproduct of bitumen extraction in Canada's oil sands. Due to the water's toxicity, associated with dissolved acid extractable organics (AEO), especially naphthenic acids (NAs), along with base-neutral organics, OSPW may require treatment to enable safe discharge to the environment. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a promising advanced oxidation process (AOP) for OSPW remediation, however, predicting treatment efficacy can be challenging due to the unique water chemistry of OSPW from different tailings ponds. The objective of this work was to study various factors affecting the kinetics of photocatalytic AEO degradation in OSPW. The rate of photocatalytic treatment varied significantly in two different OSPW sources, which could not be accounted for by differences in AEO composition, as studied by high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The effects of inorganic water constituents were investigated using factorial and response surface experiments, which revealed that hydroxyl (HO) radical scavenging by iron (Fe³⁺) and bicarbonate (HCO₃^-) inhibited the NA degradation rate. The effects of NA concentration and temperature on the treatment kinetics were also evaluated in terms of Langmuir-Hinshelwood and Arrhenius models; pH and temperature were identified as weak factors, while dissolved oxygen (DO) was critical to the photo-oxidation reaction. Accounting for all of these variables, a general empirical kinetic expression is proposed, enabling prediction of photocatalytic treatment performance in diverse sources of OSPW.

Photocatalytic degradation of commercially sourced naphthenic acids by TiO2-graphene composite nanomaterial

Naphthenic acids (NAs) are a major contributor to the toxicity in oil sands process-affected water (OSPW), which is produced by hot water extraction of bitumen. NAs are extremely difficult to be degraded due to its complex ring and side chain structure. Photocatalysis is recognized as a promising technology in the removal of refractory organic pollutants. In this work, TiO2-graphene (P25-GR) composites were synthesized by means of solvothermal method. The results showed that P25-GR composite exhibited better photocatalytic activity than pure P25. The removal efficiency of naphthenic acids in acid solution was higher than that in neutral and alkaline solutions. It was the first report ever known on the photodegradation of NAs based on graphene, and this process achieved a higher removal rate than other photocatalysis degradation of NAs in a shorter reaction time. LC/MS analysis showed that macromolecular NAs (carbon number 17-22, z value -2) were easy to be degraded than the micromolecular ones (carbon number 11-16, z value -2). Furthermore, the reactive oxygen species that play the main role in the photocatalysis system were studied. It was found that holes and ·OH were the main reactive species in the UV/P25-GR photocatalysis system. Given the high removal efficiency of refractory organic pollutants and the short degradation time, photodegradation based on composite catalysts has a broad and practical prospect. The study on the photodegradation of commercially sourced NAs may provide a guidance for the degradation of OSPW NAs by this method.

Solar photocatalytic degradation of naphthenic acids in oil sands process-affected water

Bitumen mining in the Canadian oil sands creates large volumes of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW), the toxicity of which is due in part to naphthenic acids (NAs) and other acid extractable organics (AEO). The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential of solar photocatalysis over TiO2 to remove AEO from OSPW. One day of photocatalytic treatment under natural sunlight (25 MJ/m(2) over ∼14 h daylight) eradicated AEO from raw OSPW, and acute toxicity of the OSPW toward Vibrio fischeri was eliminated. Nearly complete mineralization of organic carbon was achieved within 1-7 day equivalents of sunlight exposure, and degradation was shown to proceed through a superoxide-mediated oxidation pathway. High resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analysis of oxidized intermediate compounds indicated preferential degradation of the heavier and more cyclic NAs (higher number of double bond equivalents), which are the most environmentally persistent fractions. The photocatalyst was shown to be recyclable for multiple uses, and thus solar photocatalysis may be a promising "green" advanced oxidation process (AOP) for OSPW treatment.

Beyond Naphthenic Acids: Environmental Screening of Water from Natural Sources and the Athabasca Oil Sands Industry Using Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

There is a growing need for environmental screening of natural waters in the Athabasca region of Alberta, Canada, particularly in the differentiation between anthropogenic and naturally-derived organic compounds associated with weathered bitumen deposits. Previous research has focused primarily upon characterization of naphthenic acids in water samples by negative-ion electrospray ionization methods. Atmospheric pressure photoionization is a much less widely used ionization method, but one that affords the possibility of observing low polarity compounds that cannot be readily observed by electrospray ionization. This study describes the first usage of atmospheric pressure photoionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (in both positive-ion and negative-ion modes) to characterize and compare extracts of oil sands process water, river water, and groundwater samples from areas associated with oil sands mining activities. When comparing mass spectra previously obtained by electrospray ionization and data acquired by atmospheric pressure photoionization, there can be a doubling of the number of components detected. In addition to polar compounds that have previously been observed, low-polarity, sulfur-containing compounds and hydrocarbons that do not incorporate a heteroatom were detected. These latter components, which are not amenable to electrospray ionization, have potential for screening efforts within monitoring programs of the oil sands.

Removal of dicyclohexyl acetic acid from aqueous solution using ultrasound, ozone and their combination

Naphthenic acids are a complex mixture of organic components, some of which include saturated alkyl-substituted cycloaliphatic carboxylic acids and acyclic aliphatic acids. They are naturally found in hydrocarbon deposits like oil sand, petroleum, bitumen and crude oil. In this study, the oxidation of a relatively high molecular weight naphthenic acid (Dicyclohexyl acetic acid) was investigated using ozonation, ultrasonication and hydrogen peroxide alone and their combinations. Effects on oxidation of dicyclohexyl acetic acid (DAA) were measured for different concentrations of ozone ranging between 0.7 to 3.3 mg L(-1) and pH in the range 6 to 10. Ultrasonication and hydrogen peroxide alone were not effective to oxidize dicyclohexyl acetic acid, but combining ultrasonication with H2O2 had a significant effect on oxidation of dicyclohexyl acetic acid with maximum removal reaching to 84 ± 2.2% with 81 ± 2.1% reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD). Synergistic effects were observed for combining ultrasonication with ozonation and resulted in 100% DAA removal with 98 ± 0.8% reduction in COD within 15 min at 3.3 mg L(-1) ozone concentration and 130 Watts ultrasonication power. The reaction conditions obtained for the maximum oxidation of DAA and COD removal were used for the degradation of naphthenic acids mixture extracted from oil sands process water (OSPW). The percentage oxidation of NAs mixture extracted from OSPW was 89.3 ± 1.1% in ozonation and combined ozonation and ultrasonication, but COD removal observed was 65 ± 1.2% and 78 ± 1.4% for ozonation and combined ozonation and ultrasonication treatments, respectively.

Effect of molecular structure on the relative reactivity of naphthenic acids in the UV/H₂O₂ advanced oxidation process

The large volume of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) produced by the oil sands industry in Northern Alberta, Canada, is an environmental concern. The toxicity of OSPW has been attributed to a complex mixture of naturally occurring acids, including naphthenic acids (NAs). Highly cyclic or branched NAs are highly biopersistent in tailings ponds, thus understanding structure-reactivity relationship for NAs is very important for OSPW reclamation. In this study, we hypothesized that large, branched and cyclic NAs may be better oxidized in the UV/H(2)O(2) process than small, linear and acyclic NAs. Relative rate measurements using binary mixtures of model NA compounds confirmed that reactivity favored compounds with more carbons, and also favored NAs with one saturated ring, relative to the corresponding linear NA. However, for model compound with three rings, no increased reactivity was observed relative to monocyclic NA. UV/H(2)O(2) treatment of OSPW confirmed our findings with model compounds, indicating that the compounds with more carbons are favored for degradation. However, increasing the number of rings (or double bond equivalents) in OSPW NAs did not show any clear structure-reactivity. Microbial degradation studies of the UV/H(2)O(2) treated OSPW should be conducted to examine the overall benefit of this treatment for the real applications.

Decomposition of cyclohexanoic acid by the UV/H2O2 process under various conditions

Naphthenic acids (NAs) are a broad range of alicyclic and aliphatic compounds that are persistent and contribute to the toxicity of oil sands process affected water (OSPW). In this investigation, cyclohexanoic acid (CHA) was selected as a model naphthenic acid, and its oxidation was investigated using advanced oxidation employing a low-pressure ultraviolet light in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (UV/H(2)O(2) process). The effects of two pHs and common OSPW constituents, such as chloride (Cl(-)) and carbonate (CO(3)(2-)) were investigated in ultrapure water. The optimal molar ratio of H(2)O(2) to CHA in the treatment process was also investigated. The pH had no significant effect on the degradation, nor on the formation and degradation of byproducts in ultrapure water. The presence of CO(3)(2-) or Cl(-) significantly decreased the CHA degradation rate. The presence of 700 mg/L CO(3)(2-) or 500 mg/L Cl(-), typical concentrations in OSPW, caused a 55% and 23% decrease in the pseudo-first order degradation rate constants for CHA, respectively. However, no change in byproducts or in the degradation trend of byproducts, in the presence of scavengers was observed. A real OSPW matrix also had a significant impact by decreasing the CHA degradation rate, such that by spiking CHA into the OSPW, the degradation rate decreased up to 82% relative to that in ultrapure water. The results of this study show that UV/H(2)O(2) AOP is capable of degrading CHA as a model NA in ultrapure water. However, in the real applications, the effect of radical scavengers should be taken into consideration for the achievement of best performance of the process.

Naphthenic acids degradation and toxicity mitigation in tailings wastewater systems and aquatic environments: a review

Naphthenic acids, NAs (classical formula C(n)H(2n+z)O(2), where n is the carbon numbers, z represents zero or negative even integers), found in oil sands process waters (OSPWs), are toxic to aquatic environments depending upon several factors such as pH, salinity, molecular size and chemical structure of NAs. Among various available methods, biodegradation seems to be generally the most cost-effective method for decreasing concentrations of NAs (n ≤ 21) and reducing their associated toxicity in OSPW, however the mechanism by which the biodegradation of NAs occurs are poorly understood. Ozonation is superior over biodegradation in decreasing higher molecular weight alkyl branched NAs (preferentially, n ≥ 22, -6 ≥ z ≥ -12) as well as enabling accelerated biodegradation and reducing toxicity. Photolysis (UV at 254 nm) is effective in cleaving higher molecular weight NAs into smaller fragments that will be easier for microorganisms to degrade, whereas photocatalysis can metabolize selective NAs (0 ≥ z ≥ -6) efficiently and minimize their associated toxicity. Phytoremediation is applicable for metabolizing specific NAs (O(2), O(3), O(4), and O(5) species) and minimizing their associated toxicities. Petroleum coke (PC) adsorption is effective in reducing the more structurally complex NAs (preferentially 12 ≥ n ≥ 18 and z = -10, -12) and their toxicity in OSPWs, depending upon the PC content, pH and temperature. Several factors have influence on the degradation of NAs in OSPWs and aquatic environments, which include molecular mass and chemical structure of NAs, sediment structure, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, and bacteria types.

Characterization of oil sands naphthenic acids treated with ultraviolet and microwave radiation by negative ion electrospray Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Naphthenic acids (NAs) are concentrated in oil sand process water (OSPW) as a result of caustic oil sands extraction processes. There is considerable interest in methods for treatment of NAs in OSPW. Earlier work has shown that the combination of ultraviolet (UV) and microwave treatments in the laboratory was effective in reducing the concentration of classical NAs. Here we apply Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) to further characterize NAs treated with (a) UV (254 nm) in the presence of TiO(2) catalyst; and/or (b) microwave irradiation (2.45 GHz). FT-ICR MS was used to characterize the NA fraction before and after treatment. Acidic oxygen-containing classes were most abundant in all samples whereas other heteroatomic classes were least abundant or not present in some samples. For example, the SO(2)-containing species were absent in UV- or combined UV- and microwave-treated samples. The O(2) class was dominant in all samples, indicative of NAs. However, samples treated with UV and microwave radiation have a lower relative abundance of other heteroatomic classes. We observed O(2), S(1)O(2), O(3), S(1)O(3), O(4), O(5), and O(6) classes, whereas the species with relatively high O(n) content, namely, the O(3), O(5), and O(6) classes, were present only in UV- and microwave-treated samples. The relatively high O(n) content is consistent with oxidation of the parent acids in treated samples. There may thus be potential implications for environmental forensics. For example, the monitoring of the ratio of SO(2):O(2) or tracking the relative abundances of O(2), O(3), O(4), O(5), and O(6) classes may provide insights for distinguishing naturally derived oil sands components from those that are process-related in aquatic environments.