Solubilized Chitosan Biopolymers for Sequestration of Organic Acids in Aquatic Environments after Biodegradation in a Constructed Wetland Treatment System

Pristine chitosan was dissolved in two different respective aqueous acids, namely acetic acid (AcA) and hydrochloric acid (HCl). The respective acid solutions were used as media to associate with naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs) from raw oil sands process water (R-OSPW) contaminants and constructed treatment wetland systems OSPW (CWTS-OSPW) samples. The results revealed selective removal of NAFCs and lyotropic effects due to variable counterion binding of chloride versus acetate with the ionized NAFCs (carboxylate species)

Considering technology readiness levels in advancing mine water treatment technologies

The sector of mine water treatment is continuously evolving with new technologies emerging and older technologies being innovated. However, the maturation of technologies can sometimes be delayed due to uncertainty of being able to obtain permits to use the new technology. In this article, we explore how the use of technology readiness levels (TRLs) could provide clarity to advance the implementation of passive, semi-passive, or enhanced passive water treatment technologies in the mining sector. This article is written within the context of newly released Interim Technical Guidance documents for TRLs and associated Technology Readiness Assessment (TRA) of both source control measures and effluent water treatment systems for major mines in the province of British Columbia (BC).Non UBCUnreviewedOthe

Assessment of the Mount Polley Mine site for potential passive or semi-passive treatment options

Passive water treatment is often sought as a component of long-term mine closure management. Passive water treatment promotes relatively self-sustaining conditions for the management of mine impacted water, with outcomes often being low maintenance and operational costs. However, owing to the sensitive biogeochemical nature of these technologies, a site-specific phased approach is necessary for evaluating passive treatment as a component of mine closure management, and ultimately, its successful implementation. The Mount Polley Mine (the “Mine”) was evaluated for the viability of constructed wetland treatment systems (CWTSs) as part of their long-term water management plan. A site assessment was conducted, which identified potential plant species for use in a CWTS, and evaluated the water, substrates, and plants in the context of a CWTS. Genetic microbial community profiling was used to assess natural wetlands, and components of the water management infrastructure at the Mine, and was paired with traditional growth-based microbial characterization and quantification. This information was evaluated in the context of water chemistry, treatment objectives, and biogeochemical processes to assess the feasibility for semi-passively or passively treating Mine water. Upon assessment of the natural treatment capacity at the Mine, natural conditions and processes were identified that could potentially benefit water quality.Non UBCUnreviewedOthe

Developments in Molecular Level Characterization of Naphthenic Acid Fraction Compounds Degradation in a Constructed Wetland Treatment System

The reclamation of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) is a matter of environmental importance because of the aquatic toxicity to biota. This study describes refinements in advanced analytical methods to assess the performance of biological treatment systems for OSPW, such as constructed wetland treatment systems (CWTSs). Assessment of treatment efficiency by measurement of the degradation of naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs) in OSPW is challenging in CWTS due to potentially interfering constituents such as humic acids, organic acids, salts, and hydrocarbons. Here we have applied a previous weak anion exchange (WAX) solid-phase extraction (SPE) method and high-resolution Orbitrap-mass spectrometry (MS) to remove major interferences from the NAFC analysis. The refinements in data processing employing principal component analysis (PCA) indicates that the relative abundance of NAFCs decreased with time in the treated OSPW relative to the untreated OSPW. The most saturated NAFCs with higher carbon numbers were relatively more degraded as compared to unsaturated NAFCs. The use of Kendrick plots and van Krevelen plots for assessment of the performance of the CWTS is shown to be well-suited to detailed monitoring of the complex composition of NAFCs as a function of degradation. The developments and application of analytical methods such as the WAX SPE method and high-resolution Orbitrap-MS are demonstrated as tools enabling the advancement of CWTS design and optimization, enabling passive or semi-passive water treatment systems to be a viable opportunity for OSPW treatment