1
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Miles SM, Balaberda AL, Leshuk TMC, Peru K, Headley J, Gu F, Ulrich AC. A multi-step approach: Coupling of biodegradation and UV photocatalytic oxidation TiO 2 for the treatment of naphthenic acid fraction compounds in oil sands process-affected water. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 361:142502. [PMID: 38838863 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Miles
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Amy-Lynne Balaberda
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Timothy M C Leshuk
- Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Kerry Peru
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - John Headley
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Frank Gu
- Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Ania C Ulrich
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada.
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2
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Vander Meulen IJ, Steiger BGK, Asadi M, Peru KM, Degenhardt D, McMartin DW, McPhedran KN, Wilson LD, Headley JV. Low adsorption affinity of athabasca oil sands naphthenic acid fraction compounds to a peat-mineral mixture. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 358:142076. [PMID: 38670506 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Much of the toxicity in oil sands process-affected water in Athabasca oil sands tailings has been attributed to naphthenic acids (NAs) and associated naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs). Previous work has characterized the environmental behaviour and fate of these compounds, particularly in the context of constructed treatment wetlands. There is evidence that wetlands can attenuate NAFCs in natural and engineered contexts, but relative contributions of chemical, biotic, and physical adsorption with sequestration require deconvolution. In this work, the objective was to evaluate the extent to which prospective wetland substrate material may adsorb NAFCs using a peat-mineral mix (PMM) sourced from the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR). The PMM and NAFCs were first mixed and then equilibrated across a range of NAFC concentrations (5-500 mg/L) with moderate ionic strength and hardness (∼200 ppm combined Ca2+ and Mg2+) that approximate wetland water chemistry. Under these experimental conditions, low sorption of NAFCs to PMM was observed, where sorbed concentrations of NAFCs were approximately zero mg/kg at equilibrium. When NAFCs and PMM were mixed and equilibrated together at environmentally relevant concentrations, formula diversity increased more than could be explained by combining constituent spectra. The TOC present in this PMM was largely cellulose-derived, with low levels of thermally recalcitrant carbon (e.g., lignin, black carbon). The apparent enhancement of the concentration and diversity of components in PMM/NAFCs mixtures are likely related to aqueous solubility of some PMM-derived organic materials, as post-hoc combination of dissolved components from PMM and NAFCs cannot replicate enhanced complexity observed when the two components are agitated and equilibrated together.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian J Vander Meulen
- University of Saskatchewan, Department of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada, Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Bernd G K Steiger
- University of Saskatchewan, Department of Chemistry, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Mohsen Asadi
- University of Saskatchewan, Department of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Kerry M Peru
- University of Saskatchewan, Department of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Dani Degenhardt
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Dena W McMartin
- University of Saskatchewan, Department of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Office of the Vice President (Research), University of Lethbridge, Canada
| | - Kerry N McPhedran
- University of Saskatchewan, Department of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Lee D Wilson
- University of Saskatchewan, Department of Chemistry, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - John V Headley
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
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3
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Ajaero C, Vander Meulen I, Heshka NE, Xin Q, McMartin DW, Peru KM, Chen H, McKenna AM, Reed K, Headley JV. Evaluations of Weathering of Polar and Nonpolar Petroleum Components in a Simulated Freshwater-Oil Spill by Orbitrap and Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry. ENERGY & FUELS : AN AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY JOURNAL 2024; 38:6753-6763. [PMID: 38654763 PMCID: PMC11034502 DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c04994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The comprehensive chemical characterization of crude oil is important for the evaluation of the transformation and fate of components in the environment. Molecular-level speciation of naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs) was investigated in a mesoscale spill tank using both negative-ion electrospray ionization (ESI) Orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS) and positive-ion atmospheric pressure photoionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (APPI-FT-ICR-MS). Both ionization techniques are coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometric detectors (ESI: Orbitrap MS; APPI: FT-ICR-MS at 9.4 T), enabling insight into the behavior and fate of petrogenic compounds during a simulated freshwater crude oil spill. Negative-ion ESI Orbitrap-MS reveals that oxygen-containing (Ox) classes are detected early in the spill, whereby species with more oxygen per molecule evolve later in the simulated spill. The O2-containing species gradually decreased in relative abundance, while O3 and O4 species increased in relative abundance throughout the simulated spill, which could correspond to a relative degree of oxygen incorporation. Nonpolar speciation by positive-ion APPI 9.4 T FT-ICR-MS allowed for the identification of water-soluble nonpolar and less polar acidic species. Molecular-level graphical representation of elemental compositions derived from simulated spill water-soluble and oil-soluble species suggest that biological activity is the primary degradation mechanism and that biodegradation was the dominant mechanism based on the negative-ion ESI Orbitrap-MS results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chukwuemeka Ajaero
- Environment
and Climate Change Canada, Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research
Division, National Hydrology Research Center, 11 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada
- Department
of Geography and Environment, University
of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Ian Vander Meulen
- Environment
and Climate Change Canada, Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research
Division, National Hydrology Research Center, 11 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada
- Department
of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering,
57 Campus Drive, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A9, Canada
| | - Nicole E. Heshka
- CanmetENERGY
Devon, Natural Resources Canada, 1 Oil Patch Drive, Devon, Alberta T9G 1A8, Canada
| | - Qin Xin
- CanmetENERGY
Devon, Natural Resources Canada, 1 Oil Patch Drive, Devon, Alberta T9G 1A8, Canada
| | - Dena W. McMartin
- Department
of Geography and Environment, University
of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
- Department
of Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering,
57 Campus Drive, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A9, Canada
| | - Kerry M. Peru
- Environment
and Climate Change Canada, Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research
Division, National Hydrology Research Center, 11 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Huan Chen
- National
High Field Magnet Laboratory, Florida State
University, 1800 E. Paul
Dirac Dr.,Tallahassee, Florida 32306, United States
| | - Amy M. McKenna
- National
High Field Magnet Laboratory, Florida State
University, 1800 E. Paul
Dirac Dr.,Tallahassee, Florida 32306, United States
- Soil
and
Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, 301 University Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Kiaura Reed
- Department
of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, 1601 S. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tallahassee, Florida 32307 United States
| | - John V. Headley
- Environment
and Climate Change Canada, Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research
Division, National Hydrology Research Center, 11 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada
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4
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Leshuk TC, Young ZW, Wilson B, Chen ZQ, Smith DA, Lazaris G, Gopanchuk M, McLay S, Seelemann CA, Paradis T, Bekele A, Guest R, Massara H, White T, Zubot W, Letinski DJ, Redman AD, Allen DG, Gu F. A Light Touch: Solar Photocatalysis Detoxifies Oil Sands Process-Affected Waters Prior to Significant Treatment of Naphthenic Acids. ACS ES&T WATER 2024; 4:1483-1497. [PMID: 38633367 PMCID: PMC11019557 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.3c00616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Environmental reclamation of Canada's oil sands tailings ponds is among the single largest water treatment challenges globally. The toxicity of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) has been associated with its dissolved organics, a complex mixture of naphthenic acid fraction components (NAFCs). Here, we evaluated solar treatment with buoyant photocatalysts (BPCs) as a passive advanced oxidation process (P-AOP) for OSPW remediation. Photocatalysis fully degraded naphthenic acids (NAs) and acid extractable organics (AEO) in 3 different OSPW samples. However, classical NAs and AEO, traditionally considered among the principal toxicants in OSPW, were not correlated with OSPW toxicity herein. Instead, nontarget petroleomic analysis revealed that low-polarity organosulfur compounds, composing <10% of the total AEO, apparently accounted for the majority of waters' toxicity to fish, as described by a model of tissue partitioning. These findings have implications for OSPW release, for which a less extensive but more selective treatment may be required than previously expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy
M. C. Leshuk
- H2nanO
Inc., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2R 1E8
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E5
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
- Waterloo
Institute for Nanotechnology, University
of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Zachary W. Young
- H2nanO
Inc., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2R 1E8
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
- Waterloo
Institute for Nanotechnology, University
of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Brad Wilson
- H2nanO
Inc., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2R 1E8
- Stantec, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 0A4
| | - Zi Qi Chen
- H2nanO
Inc., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2R 1E8
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E5
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
- Waterloo
Institute for Nanotechnology, University
of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Danielle A. Smith
- H2nanO
Inc., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2R 1E8
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
- Waterloo
Institute for Nanotechnology, University
of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
- P&P
Optica, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2 V 2C3
| | - Greg Lazaris
- H2nanO
Inc., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2R 1E8
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
- Waterloo
Institute for Nanotechnology, University
of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
- Department
of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill
University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 0C5
| | - Mary Gopanchuk
- H2nanO
Inc., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2R 1E8
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
- Waterloo
Institute for Nanotechnology, University
of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Sean McLay
- H2nanO
Inc., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2R 1E8
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
- Waterloo
Institute for Nanotechnology, University
of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Corin A. Seelemann
- H2nanO
Inc., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2R 1E8
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
- Waterloo
Composite Biomaterials Systems Lab, University
of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
- Waterloo
Institute for Nanotechnology, University
of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
| | - Theo Paradis
- Canadian
Natural Resources Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 4J8
| | - Asfaw Bekele
- Imperial
Oil Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2C 5N1
- ExxonMobil
Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Annandale, New Jersey 08801, United States
| | - Rodney Guest
- Suncor Energy Inc., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 3E3
| | - Hafez Massara
- Suncor Energy Inc., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 3E3
- Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc., Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada L4B 3P6
| | - Todd White
- Teck Resources Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 0B3
| | - Warren Zubot
- Syncrude Canada Ltd., Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada T9H 0B6
| | - Daniel J. Letinski
- ExxonMobil
Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Annandale, New Jersey 08801, United States
| | - Aaron D. Redman
- ExxonMobil
Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Annandale, New Jersey 08801, United States
| | - D. Grant Allen
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E5
| | - Frank Gu
- H2nanO
Inc., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2R 1E8
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E5
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
- Waterloo
Institute for Nanotechnology, University
of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
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5
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Zan S, Wang J, Fan J, Jin Y, Li Z, Du M. Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid degradation with simultaneous nitrate removal by Marinobacter sp. SJ18. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:34296-34305. [PMID: 36512278 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24705-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Naphthenic acid (NA) is a toxic pollutant with potential threat to human health. However, NA transformations in marine environments are still unclear. In this study, the characteristics and pathways of cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (CHCA) biodegradation were explored in the presence of nitrate. The results showed that CHCA was completely degraded with pseudo-first-order kinetic reaction under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, accompanied by nitrate removal rates exceeding 70%, which was positively correlated with CHCA degradation (P < 0.05). In the proposed CHCA degradation pathways, cyclohexane is dehydrogenated to form cyclohexene, followed by ring-opening by dioxygenase to generate fatty acid under aerobic conditions or cleavage of cyclohexene through β-oxidation under anaerobic conditions. Whole genome analysis indicated that nitrate was removed via assimilation and dissimilation pathways under aerobic conditions and via denitrification pathway under anaerobic conditions. These results provide a basis for alleviating combined pollution of NA and nitrate in marine environments with frequent anthropogenic activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaijun Zan
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
- Groundwater Provincial Engineering Research Center for Urban Water Recycling and Environmental Safety, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China.
| | - Jingfeng Fan
- Marine Ecology Department, National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Yuan Jin
- Marine Ecology Department, National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Zelong Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Miaomiao Du
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, China
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6
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Transcriptome Analysis of Environmental Pseudomonas Isolates Reveals Mechanisms of Biodegradation of Naphthenic Acid Fraction Compounds (NAFCs) in Oil Sands Tailings. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9102124. [PMID: 34683445 PMCID: PMC8540809 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs) are highly recalcitrant constituents of oil sands tailings. Although some microorganisms in the tailings can individually and synergistically metabolize NAFCs, the biochemical mechanisms that underpin these processes are hitherto unknown. To this end, we isolated two microorganisms, Pseudomonas protegens and Pseudomonas putida, from oils sands tailings and analyzed their transcriptomes to shed light on the metabolic processes employed by them to degrade and detoxify NAFCs. We identified 1048, 521 and 1434 genes that are upregulated in P. protegens, P. putida and a 1:1 co-culture of the strains, respectively. We subsequently enumerated the biochemical activities of enriched genes and gene products to reveal the identities of the enzymes that are associated with NAFC degradation. Separately, we analyzed the NAFCs that are degraded by the two pseudomonads and their 1:1 co-culture and determined the composition of the molecules using mass spectrometry. We then compared these molecular formulas to those of the cognate substrates of the enriched enzymes to chart the metabolic network and understand the mechanisms of degradation that are employed by the microbial cultures. Not only does the consortium behave differently than the pure cultures, but our analysis also revealed the mechanisms responsible for accelerated rate of degradation of NAFCs by the co-culture. Our findings provide new directions for engineering or evolving microorganisms and their consortia for degrading NAFCs more stably and aggressively.
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7
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Headley JV, Peru KM, Vander Meulen I. Advances in mass spectrometry for molecular characterization of oil sands naphthenic acids and process chemicals in wetlands. CAN J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/cjc-2020-0478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Advances in mass spectrometry in the authors’ and key collaborators’ research are reviewed for analysis of oil sands naphthenic acids fraction compounds (NAFCs) and industrial process chemicals, sulfolane and alkanolamines, in wetlands. Focus is given to developments of analyses of NAFCs in constructed wetland treatment systems and natural wetlands in the Athabasca oil sands region, Alberta, Canada. The analytical developments are applied to show the utility of wetlands to sequester and oxidize oil sands naphthenic acids. The advancements in molecular characterization led to the first application of high-resolution mass spectrometry (Fourier transform ion-cyclotron resonance and Orbitrap mass spectrometry) for elucidation of toxic mono- and di-carboxylic NAFCs in oil sands environmental samples. Key findings reveal that oil sands NAFCs are not limited to saturated structures but contain a diverse range of components, many of which contain S, N, heteroatomic species and aromatic species. Other developments of mass spectrometry methods for industrial process chemicals show for the first time that the completely water-miscible chemical, sulfolane, translocate to upper portions of cattails at natural wetland sites in the Canadian environment. Likewise, wetland-plant mediated changes of complex mixtures of alkanolamines were revealed based on the coupling of ion chromatography mass spectrometry and ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry. The advances in mass spectrometry are of particular benefit to Canada, for development of soil and water quality guidelines for oil sands NAFCs and process chemicals. In turn, the water quality guidelines serve to protect Canadian aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- John V. Headley
- Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Water Science and Technology Directorate Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 11 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada
- Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Water Science and Technology Directorate Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 11 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Kerry M. Peru
- Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Water Science and Technology Directorate Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 11 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada
- Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Water Science and Technology Directorate Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 11 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Ian Vander Meulen
- Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Water Science and Technology Directorate Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 11 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada
- Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Water Science and Technology Directorate Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 11 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada
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8
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Meng L, How ZT, Ganiyu SO, Gamal El-Din M. Solar photocatalytic treatment of model and real oil sands process water naphthenic acids by bismuth tungstate: Effect of catalyst morphology and cations on the degradation kinetics and pathways. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 413:125396. [PMID: 33626477 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bitumen extraction from oil sands produces large quantities of oil sands process water (OSPW), which contains recalcitrant naphthenic acids (NAs). In this study, three different morphologies of bismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6) photocatalysts were prepared by hydrothermal method. The prepared catalyst was characterized to obtain its structural, textural and chemical properties and tested for the degradation of model NAs and real OSPW under simulated solar irradiation. Nanoplate, flower-like and swirl-like Bi2WO6 were prepared and the results showed that the flower-like structure exhibited the highest specific surface area and total pore volume. The highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation of NAs was also demonstrated by the flower-like Bi2WO6, achieving complete degradation of cyclohexanoic acid (CHA) at fluence-based rate constant of 0.0929 cm2/J. Superoxide radicals (O2•-) and holes were identified as the major reactive species generated during the photocatalytic process. The effect of metallic ions on the degradation rates of S-containing and N-containing NAs differed and the heteroatom was found to be the main reactive site. The by-products of heteroatomic NAs were identified and degradation pathways were reported for the first time. The concentration changes of each byproduct were further estimated by mass balance. This research provides valuable information for the treatment of NAs by engineered passive solar-based approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingjun Meng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 1H9, Alberta, Canada
| | - Zuo Tong How
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 1H9, Alberta, Canada
| | - Soliu O Ganiyu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 1H9, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mohamed Gamal El-Din
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 1H9, Alberta, Canada.
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9
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Zito P, Smith DF, Cao X, Ghannam R, Tarr MA. Barium ion adduct mass spectrometry to identify carboxylic acid photoproducts from crude oil-water systems under solar irradiation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2020; 22:2313-2321. [PMID: 33150906 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00390e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Petroleum derived dissolved organic matter (DOMHC) samples were successfully cationized with barium, revealing many [M-H + Ba]+ peaks in both dark and simulated sunlight treatments. The DOMHC samples generated after light exposure exhibited a greater number of [M-H + Ba]+ peaks compared to the dark control. Multiple [M-H + Ba]+ peaks were investigated in the irradiated DOMHC using low resolution MS/MS in order to confirm the presence of diagnostic fragment ions, m/z 139, 155 and 196 in each treatment. Due to the high complexity of the bariated DOMHC mixture, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS/MS) was employed to obtain molecular level information for both irradiated and dark treatments. The irradiated DOMHC treatments had more bariated oxygenated species over a wide range of H/C and O/C when compared to the dark controls. Doubly bariated species were also observed in DOMHC, which provides evidence that photochemistry transforms DOMHC to even more complex mixtures with multiple oxygenations per molecule. This study provides evidence that barium adduct mass spectrometry can be successfully applied to DOMHC screening for the presence of COOHs, both in dark samples and solar irradiated samples. Furthermore, direct evidence and molecular composition of aqueous phase crude oil photoproducts is provided by this technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe Zito
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 70148, USA. and Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences, Chemical Analysis & Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 70148, USA
| | - Donald F Smith
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32310, USA
| | - Xian Cao
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 70148, USA.
| | - Rana Ghannam
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 70148, USA. and Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences, Chemical Analysis & Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 70148, USA
| | - Matthew A Tarr
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 70148, USA.
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Challis JK, Parajas A, Anderson JC, Asiedu E, Martin JW, Wong CS, Ross MS. Photodegradation of bitumen-derived organics in oil sands process-affected water. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2020; 22:1243-1255. [PMID: 32227038 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00005a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan K Challis
- Department of Chemistry, Richardson College for the Environment, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E9, Canada
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11
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Madison BN, Reynolds J, Halliwell L, Leshuk T, Gu F, Peru KM, Headley JV, Orihel DM. Can the toxicity of naphthenic acids in oil sands process-affected water be mitigated by a green photocatalytic method? Facets (Ott) 2020. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2019-0053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Our study evaluates the efficacy of a “green” (i.e., sustainable, recyclable, and reusable) technology to treat waste waters produced by Canada’s oil sands industry. We examined the ability of a novel advanced oxidative method—ultra-violet photocatalysis over titanium dioxide (TiO2)-coated microparticles—to reduce the toxicity of naphthenic acid fraction components (NAFC) to early life stages of the fathead minnow ( Pimephales promelas). Lengthening the duration of photocatalysis resulted in greater removal of NAFC from bioassay exposure waters; low- and high-intensity treatments reduced NAFC concentrations to about 20 and 3 mg/L (by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, FTIR), respectively. Treatments reduced the acute lethality of NAFC to fathead minnows by over half after low-intensity treatment and three-fold after high-intensity treatment. However, incomplete degradation in low-intensity treatments increased the incidence of chronic toxicity relative to untreated NAFC solutions and cardiovascular abnormalities were common even with >80% of NAFC degraded. Our findings demonstrate that photocatalysis over TiO2 microparticles is a promising method for mitigating the toxicity of oil sands process-affected water-derived NAFC to fish native to the oil sands region, but the intensity of the photocatalytic treatment needs to be considered carefully to ensure adequate mineralization of toxic constituents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry N. Madison
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Jessie Reynolds
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Lauren Halliwell
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Tim Leshuk
- Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Frank Gu
- Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Kerry M. Peru
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - John V. Headley
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Diane M. Orihel
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
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12
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Ren J, Zheng L, Wang Y, Zang X, Wu J, Yue Y, Han X, Wu L. Synthesis and characterization of quaternary ammonium based ionic liquids and its antistatic applications for diesel. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2018.08.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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13
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Leshuk T, Peru KM, de Oliveira Livera D, Tripp A, Bardo P, Headley JV, Gu F. Petroleomic analysis of the treatment of naphthenic organics in oil sands process-affected water with buoyant photocatalysts. WATER RESEARCH 2018; 141:297-306. [PMID: 29803095 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Leshuk
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada; Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Kerry M Peru
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment & Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Diogo de Oliveira Livera
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada; Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Austin Tripp
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada; Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Patrick Bardo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada; Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - John V Headley
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment & Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5, Canada
| | - Frank Gu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada; Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.
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