1 research outputs found
Advanced Analytical Mass Spectrometric Techniques and Bioassays to Characterize Untreated and Ozonated Oil Sands Process-Affected Water
Oil sands process-affected water
(OSPW) is a toxic and poorly biodegradable
mixture of sand, silt, heavy metals, and organics. In this study,
qualitative and quantitative comparisons of naphthenic acids (NAs)
were done using ultraperformance liquid chromatography time-of-flight
mass spectrometry (UPLC TOF-MS), Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance
(FT-ICR) MS, and ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). The unique combination
of these analyses allowed for the determination and correlation of
NAs, oxidized NAs, and heteroatom (sulfur or nitrogen) NAs. Despite
its lower resolution, UPLC-TOF MS was shown to offer a comparable
level of reliability and precision as the high resolution FT-ICR MS.
Additionally, the impacts of ozonation (35 mg/L utilized ozone dose)
and subsequent NAs degradation on OSPW toxicity were assessed via
a collection of organisms and toxicity end points using Vibrio fischeri (nonspecific), specific fish macrophage
antimicrobial responses, and fish olfactory responses. Fish macrophages
exposed to ozonated OSPW for 1 week showed higher production of reactive
oxygen and nitrogen intermediates; however, after 12 weeks the responses
were reduced significantly. Fish olfactory tests suggested that OSPW
interfered with their perception of odorants. Current results indicate
that the quantification of NAs species, using novel analytical methods,
can be combined with various toxicity methods to assess the efficiency
of OSPW treatment processes