Sample preparation, analytical characterization, monitoring, risk assessment and treatment of naphthenic acids in industrial wastewater and surrounding water impacted by unconventional petroleum production

Yu Chen; Yongjian Wang; John V Headley; Rongfu Huang

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169636

Sample preparation, analytical characterization, monitoring, risk assessment and treatment of naphthenic acids in industrial wastewater and surrounding water impacted by unconventional petroleum production

Sci Total Environ. 2024 Feb 25:913:169636. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169636. Epub 2023 Dec 27.

Authors

Yu Chen¹, Yongjian Wang¹, John V Headley², Rongfu Huang³

Affiliations

¹ Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Universities on Environmental Science and Engineering, MOE Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Science and Engineering, College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
² Environment and Climate Change Canada, 11 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada.
³ Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Universities on Environmental Science and Engineering, MOE Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Science and Engineering, College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China. Electronic address: rongfu@scu.edu.cn.

PMID: 38157903
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169636

Abstract

Industrial extraction of unconventional petroleum results in notable volumes of oil sands process water (OSPW), containing elevated concentrations of naphthenic acids (NAs). The presence of NAs represents an intricate amalgamation of dissolved organic constituents, thereby presenting a notable hurdle for the domain of environmental analytical chemistry. There is growing concern about monitoring the potential seepage of OSPW NAs into nearby groundwater and river water. This review summarizes recent studies on sample preparation, characterization, monitoring, risk assessment, and treatment of NAs in industrial wastewater and surrounding water. Sample preparation approaches, such as liquid-liquid extraction, solid phase microextraction, and solid phase extraction, are crucial in isolating chemical standards, performing molecular level analysis, assessing aquatic toxicity, monitoring, and treating OSPW. Instrument techniques for NAs analysis were reviewed to cover different injection modes, ionization sources, and mass analyzers. Recent studies of transfer and transformation of NAs provide insights to differentiate between anthropogenic and natural bitumen-derived sources of NAs. In addition, related risk assessment and treatment studies were also present for elucidation of environmental implication and reclamation strategies. The synthesis of the current state of scientific knowledge presented in this review targets government regulators, academic researchers, and industrial scientists with interests spanning analytical chemistry, toxicology, and wastewater management.

Keywords: Characterization; Groundwater; Monitoring; Naphthenic acids; Oil sands process water; Sample preparation.

Publication types

Review