Analytical Methods for Understanding Sources and Fate Processes of Emerging Environmental Contaminants

了解新兴环境污染物的来源和归宿过程的分析方法

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-04852
• 负责人: Ross, Matthew
• 金额: $ 1.46万
• 依托单位: Grant MacEwan University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=663709
• 关键词: Analytical; Methods; Understanding; Sources; Fate

The presence of chemical pollutants in the environment is of great concern to many people today. Knowledge of how physical and chemical processes influence pollutant concentrations in the environment is necessary to accurately determine sources of pollutants and for controlling their potential risks to humans and ecosystems. Of particularly concern to the Canadian environment are petroleum carboxylic acids (often referred to as naphthenic acids). These compounds are naturally present in bitumen and may enter the environment through the erosion of exposed bitumen outcrops. However, oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) contains high concentrations of these chemicals, which have been identified as the main driver of chemical toxicity in OSPW. Their detection in surface waters raises concerns about potential human sources and adverse effects on ecosystems. Petroleum carboxylic acids exist as a complex mixture of chemicals, which makes identification of individual components difficult. This, in turn, hampers understanding of potential sources and risks posed by these chemicals.*** We will address this knowledge gap by first reducing the complexity of the mixture by separating components based on chemical properties. Small and less complex portions of the mixture will be collected individually and the petroleum carboxylic acids in each will be converted to hydrocarbons. This conversion will to permit analysis using common instrumentation available in most laboratories. Additionally, by converting the petroleum carboxylic acids to hydrocarbons, well-understood and widely used methods developed for petroleum analysis can be used to characterize and identify components of the mixture-knowledge that will significantly increase understanding of its chemical composition.*** The developed method will be applied to understand sources and fate of petroleum carboxylic acids to the environment. Chemical fingerprints of petroleum carboxylic acids in surface water from sites not impacted by mining operations will be compared to potentially impacted sites to delineate natural and human sources of these compounds. We will also apply this new method to understand how chemical processes, such as photolysis, alter the chemical composition and impact concentrations of petroleum carboxylic acids in the environment. *** This research program will contribute new and necessary knowledge to our understanding of the chemical composition of petroleum carboxylic acids and their sources to the environment. This knowledge will be of importance for future assessments of risks posed by oil sands mining operations and petroleum spills, and ultimately play a significant role in protecting and remediating our ecosystems. **

当今许多人在环境中存在化学污染物在环境中的存在非常关注。必须了解物理和化学过程如何影响环境中的污染物浓度，以准确确定污染物的来源以及控制其对人类和生态系统的潜在风险。加拿大环境特别关注的是石油羧酸（通常称为环酸）。这些化合物自然存在于沥青中，可能会通过暴露的沥青露头侵蚀进入环境。但是，油砂受过程影响的水（OSPW）含有高浓度的这些化学物质，这些化学物质已被确定为OSPW中化学毒性的主要驱动力。它们在地表水中的检测引起了人们对潜在人类来源和对生态系统的不利影响的担忧。石油羧酸作为化学物质的复杂混合物存在，从而使单个成分的鉴定难以识别。反过来，这妨碍了对这些化学物质带来的潜在来源和风险的理解。将分别收集混合物的小且不复杂的部分，每种混合物中的羧酸将转换为碳氢化合物。这种转换将允许使用大多数实验室中可用的常见仪器进行分析。此外，通过将石油羧酸转化为碳氢化合物，可以使用良好的和广泛使用的用于石油分析的方法来表征和识别混合物知识的组成部分，这些组件将显着提高对其化学成分的理解。将不受采矿作业影响的地点中的石油羧酸的化学指纹与潜在影响的地点进行比较，以描绘这些化合物的自然和人类来源。我们还将应用这种新方法来了解化学过程如何改变化学过程，改变了环境中石油羧酸的化学成分和影响浓度。 ***该研究计划将为我们理解石油羧酸的化学组成及其对环境的来源做出贡献。对于对油砂采矿作业和石油溢出构成的风险评估的未来评估将非常重要，并最终在保护和修复我们的生态系统方面发挥了重要作用。 **