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TitleProfiling oil sands mixtures from industrial developments and natural groundwaters for source identification
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsFrank, R. A., Roy J. W., Bickerton G., Rowland S. J., Headley J. V., Scarlett A. G., West C. E., Peru K. M., Parrott J. L., Conly M. F., & Hewitt M. L.
Volume48
Issue5
Pagination10 pages
Date Published01/2014
PublisherEnvironmental Science & Technology
Publication Languageeng
Keywordsanalytical methodology, federal government, groundwater, hydrogeology, tailings water
Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify chemical components that could distinguish chemical mixtures in oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) that had potentially migrated to groundwater in the oil sands development area of northern Alberta, Canada. In the first part of the study, OSPW samples from two different tailings ponds and a broad range of natural groundwater samples were assessed with historically employed techniques as Level-1 analyses, including geochemistry, total concentrations of naphthenic acids (NAs) and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS). While these analyses did not allow for reliable source differentiation, they did identify samples containing significant concentrations of oil sands acid-extractable organics (AEOs). In applying Level-2 profiling analyses using electrospray ionization high resolution mass spectrometry (ESI-HRMS) and comprehensive multidimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOF/MS) to samples containing appreciable AEO concentrations, differentiation of natural from OSPW sources was apparent through measurements of O2:O4 ion class ratios (ESI-HRMS) and diagnostic ions for two families of suspected monoaromatic acids (GC × GC-TOF/MS). The resemblance between the AEO profiles from OSPW and from 6 groundwater samples adjacent to two tailings ponds implies a common source, supporting the use of these complimentary analyses for source identification. These samples included two of upward flowing groundwater collected <1 m beneath the Athabasca River, suggesting OSPW-affected groundwater is reaching the river system.

URLhttp://www.thetyee.ca/Documents/2014/02/21/Profiling-Oil-Sands-Mixtures.pdf
Locational Keywords

Athabasca River

Active Link

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/5539988745

Group

OSEMB

Citation Key53347

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