Effect of Carboxylic Acid Content on the Acute Toxicity of Oil Sands Naphthenic Acids

2009 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 266-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Frank ◽  
Katharina Fischer ◽  
Richard Kavanagh ◽  
B. Kent Burnison ◽  
Gilles Arsenault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carboxylic Acid ◽  
Acute Toxicity ◽  
Acid Content ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Naphthenic Acids

Biodegradation of naphthenic acids by microbial populations indigenous to oil sands tailings

1994 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 467-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Herman ◽  
Phillip M. Fedorak ◽  
Mike D. MacKinnon ◽  
J. W. Costerton
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Acute Toxicity ◽  
Organic Acids ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Toxicity Testing ◽  
Naphthenic Acids ◽  
Commercial Mixture ◽  
Oil Sands Tailings ◽  
Chromatographic Peaks

Organic acids, similar in structure to naphthenic acids, have been associated with the acute toxicity of tailings produced by the oil sands industry in northeastern Alberta, Canada. Bacterial cultures enriched from oil sands tailings were found to utilize as their sole carbon source both a commercial mixture of naphthenic acids and a mixture of organic acids extracted from oil sands tailings. Gas chromatographic analysis of both the commercial naphthenic acids and the extracted organic acids revealed an unresolved "hump" formed by the presence of many overlapping peaks. Microbial activity directed against the commercial mixture of naphthenic acids converted approximately 50% of organic carbon into CO2 and resulted in a reduction in many of the gas chromatographic peaks associated with this mixture. Acute toxicity testing utilizing the Microtox test revealed a complete absence of detectable toxicity following the biodegradation of the naphthenic acids. Microbial activity mineralized approximately 20% of the organic carbon present in the extracted organic acids mixture, although there was no indication of a reduction in any gas chromatographic peaks with biodegradation. Microbial attack on the organic acids mixture reduced acute toxicity to approximately one half of the original level. Respirometric measurements of microbial activity within microcosms containing oil sands tailings were used to provide further evidence that the indigenous microbial community could biodegrade naphthenic acids and components within the extracted organic acids mixture.Key words: naphthenic acids, biodegradation, oil sands tailings, toxicity testing.

Acute toxicity of aromatic and non-aromatic fractions of naphthenic acids extracted from oil sands process-affected water to larval zebrafish

Chemosphere ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 415-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.G. Scarlett ◽  
H.C. Reinardy ◽  
T.B. Henry ◽  
C.E. West ◽  
R.A. Frank ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Toxicity ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Naphthenic Acids ◽  
Larval Zebrafish

Biodegradation of cycloalkane carboxylic acids in oil sand tailings

1993 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 576-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Herman ◽  
Phillip M. Fedorak ◽  
J. William Costerton
Keyword(s):  
Acute Toxicity ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Carboxylic Acids ◽  
Microbial Degradation ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Naphthenic Acids ◽  
Oil Sand ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Athabasca Oil Sands

The biodegradation of both an n-alkane and several carboxylated cycloalkanes was examined within tailings produced by the extraction of bitumen from the Athabasca oil sands. The carboxylated cycloalkanes examined were structurally similar to naphthenic acids that have been associated with the acute toxicity of oil sand tailings. The biodegradation potential of naphthenic acids was estimated by determining the biodegradation of both the carboxylated cycloalkanes and hexadecane in oil sand tailings. Carboxylated cycloalkanes were biodegraded within oil sand tailings, although compounds with methyl substitutions on the cycloalkane ring were more resistant to microbial degradation. Microbial activity against hexadecane and certain carboxylated cycloalkanes was found to be nitrogen and phosphorus limited.Key words: biodegradation, carboxylated cycloalkanes, oil sand tailings.

scholarly journals Persulfate Oxidation Coupled with Biodegradation by Pseudomonas fluorescens Enhances Naphthenic Acid Remediation and Toxicity Reduction

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1502
Author(s):  
Amy-lynne Balaberda ◽  
Ania C. Ulrich
Keyword(s):  
Acute Toxicity ◽  
Pseudomonas Fluorescens ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Vibrio Fischeri ◽  
Naphthenic Acid ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Chemical Oxidation ◽  
Naphthenic Acids ◽  
Persulfate Oxidation ◽  
Synergistic Interactions

The extraction of bitumen from the Albertan oilsands produces large amounts of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) that requires remediation. Classical naphthenic acids (NAs), a complex mixture of organic compounds containing O2− species, are present in the acid extractable organic fraction of OSPW and are a primary cause of acute toxicity. A potential remediation strategy is combining chemical oxidation and biodegradation. Persulfate as an oxidant is advantageous, as it is powerful, economical, and less harmful towards microorganisms. This is the first study to examine persulfate oxidation coupled to biodegradation for NA remediation. Merichem NAs were reacted with 100, 250, 500, and 1000 mg/L of unactivated persulfate at 21 °C and 500 and 1000 mg/L of activated persulfate at 30 °C, then inoculated with Pseudomonas fluorescens LP6a after 2 months. At 21 °C, the coupled treatment removed 52.8–98.9% of Merichem NAs, while 30 °C saw increased removals of 99.4–99.7%. Coupling persulfate oxidation with biodegradation improved removal of Merichem NAs and chemical oxidation demand by up to 1.8× and 6.7×, respectively, and microbial viability was enhanced up to 4.6×. Acute toxicity towards Vibrio fischeri was negatively impacted by synergistic interactions between the persulfate and Merichem NAs; however, it was ultimately reduced by 74.5–100%. This study supports that persulfate oxidation coupled to biodegradation is an effective and feasible treatment to remove NAs and reduce toxicity.

scholarly journals Adamantane Carboxylic Acids Demonstrate Mitochondrial Toxicity Consistent with Oil Sands-Derived Naphthenic Acids

2021 ◽  
pp. 100092
Author(s):  
Kate I. Rundle ◽  
Mahmoud S. Sharaf ◽  
Don Stevens ◽  
Collins Kamunde ◽  
Michael R. Heuvel
Keyword(s):  
Carboxylic Acids ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Naphthenic Acids ◽  
Mitochondrial Toxicity

Performance of ectomycorrhizal alders exposed to specific Canadian oil sands tailing stressors under in vivo bipartite symbiotic conditions

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
pp. 543-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Beaudoin-Nadeau ◽  
André Gagné ◽  
Cyntia Bissonnette ◽  
Pier-Anne Bélanger ◽  
J. André Fortin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil Sands ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Naphthenic Acids ◽  
Paxillus Involutus ◽  
Alnus Incana ◽  
In Vivo Selection ◽  
Alnus Viridis ◽  
Leaf Necrosis ◽  
Different Strains

Canadian oil sands tailings are predominately sodic residues contaminated by hydrocarbons such as naphthenic acids. These conditions are harsh for plant development. In this study, we evaluated the effect of inoculating roots of Alnus viridis ssp. crispa and Alnus incana ssp. rugosa with ectomycorrhizal fungi in the presence of tailings compounds. Seedlings were inoculated with 7 different strains of Paxillus involutus and Alpova diplophloeus and were grown under different treatments of NaCl, Na2SO4, and naphthenic acids in a growth chamber. Afterwards, seedling survival, height, dry biomass, leaf necrosis, and root mycorrhization rate were measured. Paxillus involutus Mai was the most successful strain in enhancing alder survival, health, and growth. Seedlings inoculated with this strain displayed a 25% increase in survival rate, 2-fold greater biomass, and 2-fold less leaf necrosis compared with controls. Contrary to our expectations, A. diplophloeus was not as effective as P. involutus in improving seedling fitness, likely because it did not form ectomycorrhizae on roots of either alder species. High intraspecific variation characterized strains of P. involutus in their ability to stimulate alder height and growth and to minimize leaf necrosis. We conclude that in vivo selection under bipartite symbiotic conditions is essential to select effective strains that will be of use for the revegetation and reclamation of derelict lands.

scholarly journals Floating Photocatalysts for Passive Solar Degradation of Naphthenic Acids in Oil Sands Process-Affected Water

Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Leshuk ◽  
Harish Krishnakumar ◽  
Diogo de Oliveira Livera ◽  
Frank Gu
Keyword(s):  
Oil Sands ◽  
Naphthenic Acids ◽  
Passive Solar
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