@article {51881,
	title = {Comparison of GC-MS and FTIR methods for quantifying naphthenic acids in water samples},
	volume = {73},
	year = {2008},
	month = {09/2008},
	pages = {6 pages },
	publisher = {Chemosphere },
	abstract = {The extraction of bitumen from the oil sands in Canada releases toxic naphthenic acids into the process-affected waters. The development of an ideal analytical method for quantifying naphthenic acids (general formula CnH2n + ZO2) has been impeded by the complexity of these mixtures and the challenges of differentiating naphthenic acids from other naturally-occurring organic acids. The oil sands industry standard FTIR method was compared with a newly-developed GC{\textendash}MS method. Naphthenic acids concentrations were measured in extracts of surface and ground waters from locations within the vicinity of and away from the oil sands deposits and in extracts of process-affected waters. In all but one case, FTIR measurements of naphthenic acids concentrations were greater than those determined by GC{\textendash}MS. The detection limit of the GC{\textendash}MS method was 0.01 mg L-1 compared to 1 mg L-1 for the FTIR method. The results indicated that the GC{\textendash}MS method is more selective for naphthenic acids, and that the FTIR method overestimates their concentrations.},
	keywords = {analytical methodology, naphthenic acids, tailings water, UofA},
	author = {Scott, Angela C. and Young, Rozlyn F. and Fedorak, Philip M.}
}
