title: Photolysis of naphthenic acids in natural surface water.
abstract: Naphthenic acids are toxic and corrosive substances in oil sands leachates comprising a group of saturated aliphatic and alicyclic carboxylic acids in hydrocarbon deposits (petroleum, oil sands bitumen, and crude oils). In the current study, photolysis was applied to naphthenic acid mixtures and individual compounds to determine the efficacy of a variety of UV/vis radiation sources for reducing both concentration and aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor binding as a measure of toxicity. The results show that the concentrations of neither the compounds nor the mixtures were significantly reduced in Athabasca River water, although compositional changes occurred within the mixtures and Ah receptor binding potential was affected by photolysis. Photolysis at UV254 was the most effective radiation source applied in all instances.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada. dena.mcmartin@uregina.ca
authors.forename: Dena W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: McMartin
authors.forename: John V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Headley
authors.forename: Duane A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Friesen
authors.forename: Kerry M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Peru
authors.forename: Jon A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gillies
mesh_terms: D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D010782:Photolysis; D045483:Rivers; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; C046170:naphthenic acid