Dataset Information

Non-target profiling of bitumen-influenced waters for the identification of tracers unique to oil sands processed-affected water (OSPW) in the Athabasca watershed of Alberta, Canada.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

The objective of this study was to identify unique chemical tracers of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) to enable definitive discrimination of tailings pond seepage from natural bitumen-influenced waters from the Canadian Alberta McMurray formation.

Methods

The approach involved comparing unknowns from an unprecedented sample set of OSPW (n=4) and OSPW-affected groundwaters (n=15) with natural bitumen-influenced groundwaters (n=20), using HPLC/electrospray ionisation high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) operated in both polarities.

Results

Four unknown chemical entities were identified as potential tracers of OSPW seepage and subsequently subjected to structural elucidation. One potential tracer, tentatively identified as a thiophene-containing carboxylic acid [C₁₅ H₂₃ O₃ S],^- was only detected in OSPW and OSPW- affected samples, thereby showing the greatest diagnostic potential. The remaining three unknowns, postulated to be two thiochroman isomers [C₁₇ H₂₅ O₃ S]⁺ and an ethyl-naphthalene isomer [C₁₆ H₂₁ ]⁺ were detected in one and two background groundwaters, respectively CONCLUSIONS: We advanced the state of knowledge for tracers of tailings seepage beyond heteroatomic classes, to identifying diagnostic substances, with structures postulated. Synthesis of the four proposed structures is recommended to enable structural confirmations. This research will guide and inform the Oil Sands Monitoring Program in its efforts to assess potential influences of oil sands development on the Athabasca River watershed.

SUBMITTER: Milestone CB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7757169 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Non-target profiling of bitumen-influenced waters for the identification of tracers unique to oil sands processed-affected water (OSPW) in the Athabasca watershed of Alberta, Canada.

Milestone Craig B CB Sun Chenxing C Martin Jonathan W JW Bickerton Greg G Roy James W JW Frank Richard A RA Hewitt L Mark LM

Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM 20210201 3

<h4>Rationale</h4>The objective of this study was to identify unique chemical tracers of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) to enable definitive discrimination of tailings pond seepage from natural bitumen-influenced waters from the Canadian Alberta McMurray formation.<h4>Methods</h4>The approach involved comparing unknowns from an unprecedented sample set of OSPW (n = 4) and OSPW-affected groundwaters (n = 15) with natural bitumen-influenced groundwaters (n = 20), using high-performance li ...[more]

PMID: 33074582

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Dataset Information

Non-target profiling of bitumen-influenced waters for the identification of tracers unique to oil sands processed-affected water (OSPW) in the Athabasca watershed of Alberta, Canada.

Rationale

Methods

Results

Publications

Non-target profiling of bitumen-influenced waters for the identification of tracers unique to oil sands processed-affected water (OSPW) in the Athabasca watershed of Alberta, Canada.

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