Diaromatic sulphur-containing 'naphthenic' acids in process waters

Polar organic compounds found in industrial process waters, particularly those originating from biodegraded petroleum residues, include 'naphthenic acids' (NA). Some NA have been shown to have acute toxicity to fish and also to produce sub-lethal effects. Whilst some of these toxic effects...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: West, C., Scarlett, Alan, Tonkin, A., O'Carroll-Fitzpatrick, D., Pureveen, J., Tegelaar, E., Gieleciak, R., Hager, D., Petersen, K., Tollefsen, K., Rowland, S.
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2014
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33291
_version_ 1848753904748068864
author West, C.
Scarlett, Alan
Tonkin, A.
O'Carroll-Fitzpatrick, D.
Pureveen, J.
Tegelaar, E.
Gieleciak, R.
Hager, D.
Petersen, K.
Tollefsen, K.
Rowland, S.
author_facet West, C.
Scarlett, Alan
Tonkin, A.
O'Carroll-Fitzpatrick, D.
Pureveen, J.
Tegelaar, E.
Gieleciak, R.
Hager, D.
Petersen, K.
Tollefsen, K.
Rowland, S.
author_sort West, C.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Polar organic compounds found in industrial process waters, particularly those originating from biodegraded petroleum residues, include 'naphthenic acids' (NA). Some NA have been shown to have acute toxicity to fish and also to produce sub-lethal effects. Whilst some of these toxic effects are produced by identifiable carboxylic acids, acids such as sulphur-containing acids, which have been detected, but not yet identified, may produce others. Therefore, in the present study, the sulphur-containing acids in oil sands process water were studied.A fraction (ca 12% by weight of the total NA containing ca 1.5% weight sulphur) was obtained by elution of methylated NA through an argentation solid phase extraction column with diethyl ether. This was examined by multidimensional comprehensive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCxGC-MS) in both nominal and high resolution mass accuracy modes and by GCxGC-sulphur chemiluminescence detection (GCxGC-SCD).Interpretation of the mass spectra and retention behaviour of methyl esters of several synthesised sulphur acids and the unknowns allowed delimitation of the structures, but not complete identification. Diaromatic sulphur-containing alkanoic acids were suggested.Computer modelling of the toxicities of some of the possible acids suggested they would have similar toxicities to one another and to dehydroabietic acid. However, the sulphur-rich fraction was not toxic or estrogenic to trout hepatocytes, suggesting the concentrations of sulphur acids in this sample were too low to produce any such effects invitro. Further samples should probably be examined for these compounds. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T08:31:56Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-33291
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T08:31:56Z
publishDate 2014
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-332912017-09-13T15:30:51Z Diaromatic sulphur-containing 'naphthenic' acids in process waters West, C. Scarlett, Alan Tonkin, A. O'Carroll-Fitzpatrick, D. Pureveen, J. Tegelaar, E. Gieleciak, R. Hager, D. Petersen, K. Tollefsen, K. Rowland, S. Polar organic compounds found in industrial process waters, particularly those originating from biodegraded petroleum residues, include 'naphthenic acids' (NA). Some NA have been shown to have acute toxicity to fish and also to produce sub-lethal effects. Whilst some of these toxic effects are produced by identifiable carboxylic acids, acids such as sulphur-containing acids, which have been detected, but not yet identified, may produce others. Therefore, in the present study, the sulphur-containing acids in oil sands process water were studied.A fraction (ca 12% by weight of the total NA containing ca 1.5% weight sulphur) was obtained by elution of methylated NA through an argentation solid phase extraction column with diethyl ether. This was examined by multidimensional comprehensive gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCxGC-MS) in both nominal and high resolution mass accuracy modes and by GCxGC-sulphur chemiluminescence detection (GCxGC-SCD).Interpretation of the mass spectra and retention behaviour of methyl esters of several synthesised sulphur acids and the unknowns allowed delimitation of the structures, but not complete identification. Diaromatic sulphur-containing alkanoic acids were suggested.Computer modelling of the toxicities of some of the possible acids suggested they would have similar toxicities to one another and to dehydroabietic acid. However, the sulphur-rich fraction was not toxic or estrogenic to trout hepatocytes, suggesting the concentrations of sulphur acids in this sample were too low to produce any such effects invitro. Further samples should probably be examined for these compounds. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33291 10.1016/j.watres.2013.10.058 restricted
spellingShingle West, C.
Scarlett, Alan
Tonkin, A.
O'Carroll-Fitzpatrick, D.
Pureveen, J.
Tegelaar, E.
Gieleciak, R.
Hager, D.
Petersen, K.
Tollefsen, K.
Rowland, S.
Diaromatic sulphur-containing 'naphthenic' acids in process waters
title Diaromatic sulphur-containing 'naphthenic' acids in process waters
title_full Diaromatic sulphur-containing 'naphthenic' acids in process waters
title_fullStr Diaromatic sulphur-containing 'naphthenic' acids in process waters
title_full_unstemmed Diaromatic sulphur-containing 'naphthenic' acids in process waters
title_short Diaromatic sulphur-containing 'naphthenic' acids in process waters
title_sort diaromatic sulphur-containing 'naphthenic' acids in process waters
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33291