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: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=708519
• 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.

当今环境中化学污染物的存在引起了许多人的极大关注。了解物理和化学过程如何影响环境中污染物浓度对于准确确定污染物来源并控制其对人类和生态系统的潜在风险是必要的。加拿大环境特别关注的是石油羧酸（通常称为环烷酸）。这些化合物天然存在于沥青中，并可能通过暴露的沥青露头的侵蚀进入环境。然而，油砂工艺影响水 (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 化学毒性的主要驱动因素。在地表水中检测到它们引起了人们对潜在人类来源和对生态系统不利影响的担忧。石油羧酸以复杂的化学混合物形式存在，这使得单个成分的识别变得困难。这反过来又妨碍了对这些化学品的潜在来源和风险的了解。 我们将首先根据化学性质分离成分来降低混合物的复杂性，从而解决这一知识差距。混合物中较小且不太复杂的部分将被单独收集，并且每个部分中的石油羧酸将转化为碳氢化合物。这种转换将允许使用大多数实验室可用的通用仪器进行分析。此外，通过将石油羧酸转化为碳氢化合物，可以使用为石油分析开发的众所周知且广泛使用的方法来表征和识别混合物的成分，这将显着增加对其化学成分的了解。 所开发的方法将用于了解石油羧酸的来源和对环境的归宿。未受采矿作业影响的地点地表水中石油羧酸的化学指纹将与可能受影响的地点进行比较，以描绘这些化合物的自然来源和人类来源。我们还将应用这种新方法来了解光解等化学过程如何改变化学成分并影响环境中石油羧酸的浓度。 该研究计划将为我们了解石油羧酸的化学成分及其环境来源提供新的必要知识。这些知识对于未来评估油砂开采作业和石油泄漏造成的风险非常重要，并最终在保护和修复我们的生态系统方面发挥重要作用。